On Friday, April 25, renowned poet, writer, and human rights activist Kevin Powell will host the Los Angeles premiere of his first documentary film, When We Free The World, at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus. The event is free to the public, with doors opening at 6:00 PM and the program beginning promptly at 6:30 PM. Seating is first-come, first-served, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP by emailing kevin@kevinpowell.net.

Produced and co-written by Evangeline Lawson and Powell under their Brooklyn Diego production banner, When We Free The World asks one central question: What does it really mean to be a man? The documentary gathers the voices of 70 Black men — spanning teenagers to men in their 90s — to explore masculinity from a multigenerational, deeply personal, and culturally relevant perspective.

We have carried this film through COVID, presidential elections, the tragic videotaped death of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo movement, and so much more. I am very proud of what we’ve created, to really look at how we define manhood from many angles, inclusive of so many different types of males. It is my humble hope that this film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD, will spark all kinds of conversations, all kinds of action steps and solutions, and push folks to ask the question we ask in the film: ‘What is a man?’” say Powell.

Lawson, a Southern California native and UCLA alum, adds: “As a woman working on a film about male identity, it was crucial to approach every story with care. These are voices we don’t hear enough — and I hope it opens doors for deeper understanding and change.”

The film also features an all-Black-male original soundtrack curated by multi-GRAMMY-nominated producer Vidal Davis, with the closing credits debuting the film’s first single, “I’m A Man,” inspired by the iconic Civil Rights-era protest posters declaring “I AM A MAN.”

Powerful, poignant, and urgent, When We Free The World offers something rarely seen on screen — a layered, emotional, and unapologetically honest exploration of Black male identity.