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U.S. Documentary Competition

Soul Patrol

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United States2026100 minEnglish
Soul Patrol

From deep behind enemy lines, a hidden chapter of American military history is uncovered, prompting the question of whether reckoning with the past can bring peace to those who lived it. The Vietnam War’s first Black special operations team reunites to tell their story.

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From deep behind enemy lines, a hidden chapter of American military history is uncovered, prompting the question of whether reckoning with the past can bring peace to those who lived it. The Vietnam War’s first Black special operations team reunites to tell their story.

As a teenager, Ed Emanuel proudly joined the military and marveled at the world from his first ever plane to Vietnam. When the flight captain announced Bobby Kennedy’s assassination, a dreadful new reality struck Emanuel — the fight for the civil rights of his own people was sparking to a new level.

So, what the hell was he doing in Saigon?

Soul Patrol is an immersive journey through the identity crisis of what it meant to be a “soul brother” fighting in Vietnam. Director J.M. Harper crafts precious archival footage, reenactments, and testimonies to awaken a history that has disappeared behind narratives of imperial legacy and military stoicism. Soul Patrol is a radiant journey through shame and isolation, as Emanuel reunites his team, attempting to heal their common trauma. — SF

Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 29–February 1) and credentialed press and industry (January 28–February 1).

U.S. Documentary CompetitionAll FeaturesBIPOC StoriesBiographyInternationalNonfictionSuitable For All AgesAudio DescriptionClosed CaptionOpen CaptionU.S. Only- less

Credits

  • Director(s)

    J.M. Harper

  • Producer

    Sam Bisbee

    Danielle Massie

    J.M. Harper

    Nasir Jones

    Peter Bittenbender

  • Executive Producer

    Ed Emanuel

    Joe Plummer

    Jenifer Westphal

    Stacey Reiss

    Lance Acord

    Jackie Kelman Bisbee

    Cody Ryder

    Lauren Driscoll

    John Driscoll

    Jenny Raskin

    Kelsey Koenig

    Davis Guggenheim

    Rahdi Taylor

    Andrew Gertler

    Max Allman

  • Cinematographer

    Logan Triplett

  • Editors

    Byron Leon

    Niles Howard

    Gabriela Tessitore

Meet the Artist

Panelist Name

J.M. Harper

  • Instagram

J.M. Harper is a Brooklyn-based director and father of two. A multi-hyphenate documentarian, he has edited four features, including the Emmy-nominated Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. His directorial debut, As We Speak, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. He is a DOC NYC 40 Under 40 and a Concordia Studio and Film Independent Amplifier fellow.

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