
Rustin
Synopsis
Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.
Production Budget Analysis
The production budget for Rustin (2023) has not been publicly disclosed.
CAST: Colman Domingo, Aml Ameen, Glynn Turman, Chris Rock, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey DIRECTOR: George C. Wolfe CINEMATOGRAPHY: Tobias A. Schliessler MUSIC: Branford Marsalis PRODUCTION: Higher Ground
Box Office Performance
Theatrical box office data is not publicly available for Rustin (2023). This may indicate a limited release, direct-to-streaming, or a release predating modern box office tracking.
Profitability Assessment
Insufficient publicly available data to assess profitability.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
PRODUCTION NOTES
▸ Production
In February 2021, it was reported that George C. Wolfe would direct a film based on the life of Bayard Rustin from a script by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. In October 2021, Colman Domingo was cast as Rustin. Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, and Audra McDonald also joined the cast. Later that month, Aml Ameen, CCH Pounder, Michael Potts, Bill Irwin, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, Carra Patterson, and Adrienne Warren joined the cast. Production began in November 2021 in Pittsburgh. In December 2021, Jeffrey Wright, Grantham Coleman, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Dante Powell, Ayana Workman, Jamilah Nadege Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, and Kevin Mambo joined the cast. Principal photography ended in Washington, D.C. in August 2022.
Lenny Kravitz wrote and performed an original song, "Road to Freedom", for the film. Wolfe said: "The one note I gave him was the song needed to help deliver us as an audience, from feeling to action. And trombones. I begged for trombones." Wolfe became fascinated by trombones after filming Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), and Trombone Shorty was brought on board to contribute to the song.
▸ Music & Score
== Release == Rustin premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. It then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13. Michelle and Barack Obama introduced the film at the opening night of the HBCU First Look Film Festival at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The film was released in select theaters on November 3 and premiered worldwide on Netflix on November 17.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 14 wins & 66 nominations total
Additional Recognition: ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Date of ceremony ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Recipient(s) ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
! scope="row"| The Queerties
! scope="row"| Hamptons International Film Festival
! scope="row"| Heartland International Film Festival
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Mill Valley Film Festival
! scope="row"| Chicago International Film Festival
! scope="row"| Philadelphia Film Festival
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Hollywood Music in Media Awards
! scope="row"| Gotham Independent Film Awards
! scope="row"| Celebration of Cinema & Television
! scope="row"| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
! rowspan="2" scope="row"| Las Vegas Film Critics Society
! rowspan="1" scope="row"| Indiana Film Journalists Association
! scope="row"| Women Film Critics Circle Awards
! scope="row"| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association
! scope="row"| San Diego Film Critics Society
! scope="row"| Capri Hollywood International Film Festival
! scope="row"| Palm Springs International Film Festival
! scope="row"| Georgia Film Critics Association Awards
! scope="row"| Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Golden Globe Awards
! rowspan="1" scope="row"| Denver Film Critics Society
! rowspan="2" scope="row"| Critics' Choice Movie Awards
! scope="row"| African-American Film Critics Association Awards
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="10"| Black Reel Awards
! rowspan="3" scope="row"| AARP Movi...









































































































































































































































































































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