AMERICAN POT STORY: OAKSTERDAM
When it was time to spark a cannabis revolution, they answered the call.
The unknown origin story of how a handful of underdogs risked everything to ignite the current worldwide revolution in cannabis policy.
Reflecting Oakland, California’s rich history of civil resistance, they opened the first ever cannabis college, Oaksterdam University, and got Prop 19 - a measure to legalize cannabis - on the ballot in California, thus bringing this taboo topic to the mainstream and opening a conversation on its social justice impact.
Filmed over a decade, this groundbreaking film illuminates the power of the activist, no matter the cause.
Synopsis
Cannabis in America has had an evolution of epic proportions over the last decade and filmmakers Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus were there to record it. They spent 10 years following a "small group of concerned committed citizens" (per Margaret Mead) who opened Oaksterdam University and fought to get Prop 19 - a measure to legalize cannabis - on the ballot in California, thus bringing this taboo topic to the mainstream.
Among those rebels are Oaksterdam University Founder Richard Lee, who after becoming paraplegic, discovered cannabis provides him relief better than some traditional medications, and Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones, a woman with a heartbreaking past, who found her voice and calling after becoming part of the Oaksterdam family.
From facing public scrutiny and international press to withstanding a federal raid that threatened it all, their roller coaster ride towards legalization is as tense as it is inspiring. A true American tale, their fight serves as a reminder of how democracy can work when people come together. The documentary is not just an important historical chronicle of a time and a movement, but also a lesson on how change transpires in this country.
Upcoming Screenings
ARKANSAS PREMIERE at the Hot Springs Women’s Film Festival
At the historic Malco Theater in Hot Springs National Park
Sunday, May 12th, 2024 at 5:50pm
Festival link
Holly Weird Film Festival
Sunday May 19 at 2pm
The Good Night, 10721 Burbank Boulevard North Hollywood, CA
A ticket gets you into the whole line up of other awesome and weird shorts, the awards ceremony and an afterparty to be concluded by a karaoke night!
Directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus will be in attendance.
Ticket link
Past Screenings
WORLD PREMIERE
Slamdance Film Festival
Friday, January 20, 2023 at 10:15am
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 4:15pm
Monday, January 25, 2023 at 8:05pm
Q&A with directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
NEW JERSEY PREMIERE
Lighthouse Intl Film Festival
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 3:45pm
hosted by Arcview Management Consulting at Firefly Gallery
WEST COAST PREMIERE
Dances With Films: LA
Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 7:00pm
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood
Q&A with directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
featuring Tommy Chong
KEVIN SMITH’S
Smodcastle Film Festival
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 9:30pm
Smodcastle Cinemas, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Q&A with directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
gift bags: Simply Pure Trenton; edibles: Blazin Bakery
Topanga Film Festival
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 3:00pm
Q&A with directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
FLORIDA PREMIERE
Ft Lauderdale Intl Film Festival
Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 7:00pm
Q&A with directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
and film participants Dale Sky Jones and Jeff Jones
NEW YORK PREMIERE
Dances With Films: NY
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 4:15pm
Regal Union Square, NYC
Q&A with Director Ravit Markus and film participant Dale Sky Jones
hosted by Oaksterdam Nonprofit for Education
Saint Augustine Film Festival (SAFF)
Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 1:15pm
New Bedford Film Festival
Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:00am
Groundwork, 1213 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA 02740
NEVADA PREMIERE
Indie Vegas Film Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 8pm
Century 18 & XD Theater @ The Orleans Hotel and Casino
VIP reception at Jardin Attended by Dale Sky Jones, Priscilla Agoncillo and Directors Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus
TVHi Film Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale, CA
Austin International Film Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 9:00am
Galaxy Theaters Austin
Bios
-
![Dale Sky Jones]()
Dale Sky Jones (Main character)
Executive Chancellor
President & CEO, Board of Directors -
![Dan Katzir]()
Dan Katzir
Writer
Director -
![Ravit Markus]()
Ravit Markus
Producer
Director -
![Richard Lee]()
Richard Lee (Main character)
Founder
Oaksterdam University
About New Love Films
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.
Executive Producers
-
![Rick Rosenthal]()
Rick Rosenthal
-
![Professor Yael Katzir]()
Professor Yael Katzir
-
![Dahlia Waingort Guigui]()
Dahlia Waingort Guigui
-
![Lati Grobman]()
Lati Grobman
-
![Asher Alkoby]()
Asher Alkoby
-
![Eviatar Dotan]()
Eviatar Dotan
-
![Ayal Nitzan]()
Ayal Nitzan
