SYNOPSIS
About the Film
The award-winning American Pot Story: Oaksterdam revolves around Oaksterdam University, the world’s first cannabis college, and tells the unknown origin story of the people who took monumental risks to make cannabis legalization possible. It celebrates the courageous heritage of the legacy industry and the movement that started at OU and would go on to impact the world.
Created by critically-acclaimed filmmakers Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus, the documentary sheds light on the cannabis legalization movement through the lens of OU leaders. Katzir and Markus spent 10 years shadowing OU Founder Richard Lee and Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones as they fought to get the Prop 19 legalization measure on the ballot in California, then as they weathered a federal raid that threatened to shut them down. The film captures their struggles and triumphs as they fought to bring this topic to the mainstream.
Screening Events
Dances With Films NYC Festival
December 3, 2023 | Red Carpet: 3:30 PM | Film & Q&A: 4:15 PM | Afterparty: Everything’s Jake Bar & Lounge
You are invited to the New York premiere of the award-winning documentary American Pot Story: Oaksterdam at the Regal Union Square, followed by an after-party at Everything’s Jake Bar & Lounge, hosted by Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education.
WHAT: A screening and reception for Slamdance Audience Award-winning documentary feature American Pot Story: Oaksterdam
WHEN: Sunday, December 3rd at 4:15 pm (Red Carpet at 3:30), followed by an afterparty at Everything’s Jake Bar & Lounge, hosted by Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education.
WHERE: Regal Union Square 850 Broadway New York, NY 10003
WHO: Directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus and film participants Dale Sky Jones and Jeff Jones of Oaksterdam University will attend, plus surprise guests (prior screening events featured Tommy Chong, Redman, and Big Steve Parish). Additional notable film participants are Richard Lee, Tommy Chong, Danny Glover, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
WHY: American Pot Story: Oaksterdam won several awards and nominations at prestigious film festivals around the country. It was deemed “a must-watch for every American” by the publication Film Threat.
HOW: A ticket to the film gets you into the exclusive afterparty at Everything’s Jake Bar & Lounge hosted by Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education.
Regal Union Square
850 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Past Screenings
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
November 12, 2023 | Red Carpet: 6PM | Film & Q&A: 7PM | Afterparty: 9PM
Celebrating its 38th annual festival in 2023, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) presents American indies and studio films, international films, student films, special tributes, seminars and introduces filmmakers to South Florida audiences. The festival runs November 3-16, 2023, and screens 200 films in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Hollywood, St Augustine, and The Bahamas. Considered one of the most important regional film festivals in the U.S., the festival is committed to first-time filmmakers and innovative programming.
Savor Cinema
503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale 33301
Weyauwega International Film Festival – Wisconsin
November 9, 2023 | Film & Q&A: 6:30PM
2023 Highlights – Our thirteenth annual festival features fifty-five films from around the globe.
All films screen at the historic Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega, Wisconsin. The Gerold features a full bar and menu from the Wega Bistro. Stay for the day! Director Ravit Markus will be in attendance for the screening.
WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT SLAMDANCE 2023, American Pot Story: Oaksterdam is a documentary about how change transpires in America. The account of “a small group of concerned committed citizens” (to quote Margaret Mead) who took a huge risk in order to bring about a massive shift in public perception. It all happened at Oaksterdam University in Oakland , California – a magical place where cannabis history was made, falling right in place with Oakland’s rich history of civil resistance. Today when we see celebrities and corporations get into the cannabis business it’s easy to forget how many millions of people unjustly suffered and still suffer because of the American drug policy. Our documentary is not just an important historical chronicle of a campaign that brought into the mainstream a taboo topic, it’s also an inspiring reminder of how democracy can work when people come together in an effort to fulfill our pledge to liberty and justice for all.
Gerold Opera House
136 E Main Street, Weyauwega, WI 54983
Topanga Film Festival Los Angeles
October 21, 2023 – 3 PM PT
Nominated as “One of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world” by Filmmaker Magazine, the acclaimed Topanga Film Festival is now in its 17th year, and programs short and feature films that challenge convention and tell stories that inspire new and original ways of seeing, understanding, and being in the world.
The Topanga Film Institute holds the annual Topanga Film Festival. Founded in 2004 it includes screenings, workshops, panels, mixers, and other events to present work that is courageous, innovative, and that inspires action.
Froggy’s
1105 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
November 12, 2023 | Red Carpet: 6PM | Film & Q&A: 7PM | Afterparty: 9PM
Celebrating its 38th annual festival in 2023, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) presents American indies and studio films, international films, student films, special tributes, seminars and introduces filmmakers to South Florida audiences. The festival runs November 3-16, 2023, and screens 200 films in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Hollywood, St Augustine, and The Bahamas. Considered one of the most important regional film festivals in the U.S., the festival is committed to first-time filmmakers and innovative programming.
Savor Cinema
503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale 33301
SModcastle Film Festival New Jersey
October 15-17, 2023 | American Pot Story screening time Friday October 13 9:30 PM ET
From Kevin Smith & Friends comes a film festival so fit for a King or Queen that it can only take place in the SmodCastle! Presenting the Second Annual SModcastle Film Festival — a Central Jersey showcase of cinema hosted by the guy who made Clerks. Welcoming entries from all over the world, the SModcastle Film Festival will be a four-day fall event filled with features, short films, animation, documentaries and more. The festival will include an opening day filmmaker meet and greet, panels and awards ceremony.
Smodcastle Cinemas
82 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Dances with Films Festival
JUNE 29, 2023 | Red Carpet – 6:40 | Film & Q&A – 7pm
DANCES WITH FILMS, now in its 25th year, champions the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. While the vast majority of film fests rely heavily on celebrity, DWF has relied on the innovation, talent, creativity and sweat equity that revolutionized the entertainment industry. That reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct and produce celebrity-studded vehicles, star in blockbuster movies and television series, produce multi-million dollar films and create hit TV shows. The festival even has several OSCAR® nominees … In a world of homogenized, formulaic film festivals, DWF:LA continues to defy the rules.
TCL Chinese Theatres, Hollywood
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
After Party
Hosted at Teddy’s Lounge at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, by Incognito Cannabis Beverages and Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education. A ticket for the film gets you into the party.
Lighthouse International Film Festival
JUNE 10, 2023 | 3:45 PM ET
The Lighthouse International Film Festival is a celebration of cinema, creativity, and community on Long Beach Island, N.J. This year’s festival, taking place from June 7-11, promises to be a spectacular showcase of films handpicked from top film festivals worldwide, including Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, and more.
LONG BEACH ISLAND FOUNDATION
120 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, NJ 08008
Post-Screening Q&A
In person with Film Director Ravit Markus, along with film participant Evan Nison.
After Party
Afterward, join the Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education (The ONE), a 501(c)(3) for an after-party hosted by The Arcview Group at the Firefly Gallery.
SPONSORS
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Slamdance Film Festival 2023
JANUARY 20, 2023 | 10:15 AM MST
TREASURE MOUNTAIN INN
255 Main St, Park City, UT 84060
Post-Screening Q&A
Followed by a Q&A with New Love filmmakers Ravit Markus and Dan Katzir
How Advocacy Shapes Policy
FILM PANEL PRESENTED BY TRUCE
JANUARY 24, 2023 | 3PM MST
From California to Utah, access to medical cannabis has been created by dedicated individuals who saw the need across their communities and stayed focused on bringing patients together to use their voices to advocate for progress. During our time together, we will have an intimate discussion about the landscape of cannabis advocacy, the work that leads to progress, and the passion behind the movement that continues in Utah and across our country.
Student Union, University of Utah
200 S, Central Campus Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Panelists
Christine Stenquist, TRUCE
Diane Goldstein, LEAP
Dale Sky Jones, Oaksterdam University
Jeff Jones, Oaksterdam University
Weldon Angelos, The Weldon Project
SPONSORS
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The Team Behind the Documentary
New Love Films is a Los Angeles based creative company that produces award-winning critically-acclaimed content for film, television, and digital platforms. Our films aired on HBO, Channel 4 UK, and France 2, to name a few; played in movie theaters across the US garnering stellar reviews in the LA TIMES, NY TIMES, and the Hollywood Reporter, as well as many other publications; and have been screened in hundreds of film festivals, Ivy League universities, museums and other educational institutions around the world. We collaborate with networks, non-profit and corporate clients in the US, Europe and Israel, providing production services from inception, through research, all the way to post-production. Past clients include Mentorn/Channel 4 UK, Channels 8, 10 and 1 Israel.
Ravit Markus
Producer/Director
Dan Katzir
Writer + Director