Nat Geo Preps Theatrical Doc on ’92 L.A. Riots

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Documentary Films is set to release LA 92, marking the 25th anniversary of the riots in Los Angeles sparked by the Rodney King case, theatrically this month followed by a TV broadcast.

LA 92 looks back at the controversial King case and subsequent protests and violence using archival footage. It is produced by Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn with directors Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin. The film premieres at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, April 21. That will be followed by a multicity screening tour, then a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles beginning April 28. The film will premiere on National Geographic in the U.S. on April 30 and will air globally.

“Race relations is America’s Achilles’ heel,” said Lightbox producers Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. “The production of this film might mark the 25th anniversary of this seminal uprising, but these kinds of events still recur, and we are still dealing with their root causes. Our goal with LA 92 is to reframe the story of this tragedy for a modern audience, and we hope it will encourage reflection and debate as we wrestle with these very real conflicts that continue to plague America’s cities.”

“We come from a cinema verite background and as such, we are always striving to find ways to let the footage speak for itself,” said Martin and Lindsay, who also edited the film. “Our intent was to fully immerse viewers in a raw and unfiltered experience in order to challenge their understanding of the civil unrest, both emotionally and intellectually.”