THE FIRE INSIDE Special Screenings

U.S. Premiere

Screening to be followed by a conversation with AFI Alumna, director and executive producer Rachel Morrison and actor Ryan Destiny moderated by filmmaker Ryan Coogler.

Acclaimed cinematographer Rachel Morrison (AFI Class of 2006) makes her directorial debut with this engrossing drama about professional boxer Claressa Shields and her meteoric journey from Flint, Michigan, to London for the 2012 Olympics. As a child, Claressa (Ryan Destiny) was a ferocious fighter who drew the eye of local volunteer coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry). Under his tutelage, Claressa goes barreling toward Olympic gold, only to realize that not all dreams are created equal and the real fight has just begun. Driven by mighty and tender performances from Destiny and Henry, THE FIRE INSIDE is an assured debut that fuses Morrison’s keen visual aesthetic with a rousing screenplay penned by Barry Jenkins (who also produced) to tell an inspiring story of perseverance and triumph. –Javier Chavez