Peacock Acquires We Dare to Dream, Doc Backed by Angelina Jolie and John Legend, for Osc

Waad Al-Kateab's doc about the Olympic refugee team debuted at Tribeca

Peacock has acquired U.S. rights to Waad Al-Kateab’s second feature-length documentary “We Dare to Dream.”

The pact comes after the 93-minute film made its world premiere in June at the Tribeca Film Festival and had a Oscar qualifying theatrical run at New York City’s IFC Center in October. The docu, about the refugee Olympic team at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, will begin streaming on Peacock on Dec. 1.

“The fact that Peacock has now acquired our film gives me hope that millions of people will be able to understand our story, and that we, the world’s refugees, are not the crisis,” says Al-Kateab. “We are a consequence of multiple crises in the world from climate instability to political conflict that are causing millions, like me and my children, to lose their homes and their way of life. With new crises at a breaking point today, I think that this story about the rights and dreams of refugees to participate fully in society could not be more urgent.”

Peacock just recently began acquiring politically minded, social issue nonfiction titles like “We Dare to Dream.” After its July 2023 premiere at Outfest LA Film Festival, Peacock picked up the feature-length documentary film “Commitment to Life” about the pivotal role Los Angeles played in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Commitment to Life” will also begin streaming on Peacock on Dec. 1.

“We Dare to Dream” is the second docu that Peacock, which launched in 2020, has streamed that is seeking Academy Award consideration. Recent Peacock doc titles include “Myth of the Zodiac Killer,” Krishnas: Gurus. Karma. Murder.” and “Dr. Death: Cutthroat Conman.”

After premiering at Tribeca, Angelina Jolie joined “We Dare to Dream” an executive producer. Five months later, John Legend and his Get Lifted Film banner co-founders Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius also signed on to exec produce. Legend also wrote, composed and performed an original song for the docu titled “Don’t Need to Sleep.” (Legend wrote “Don’t Need to Sleep” with Oak Felder and Justin Tranter.)

Al-Kateab’s first feature docu, “For Sama,” which captures the director’s daily life during the siege of the Syrian city, Aleppo, was nominated for an Academy Award in 2020. “We Dare to Dream” is framed by Al-Kateab’s personal story as an auteur coming to terms with her place in the world as she realizes she can never go home to Aleppo.

“This is a very important and very inspiring story for little kids around the world who are refugees and who are not refugees,” Al-Kateab told Variety. “It reminds us that we all have dreams. We all deserve to have dreams and to have opportunities.”

Gebbia produced “We Dare to Dream” alongside Violet Films’ Joanna Natasegara (“Virunga”), Abigail Anketell-Jones (“The Edge of Democracy”) and XTR’s Bryn Mooser and Kathryn Everett.

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Aldo Pusey

Update: 2024-07-24

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