‘Evicting the American Dream’ wins documentary film award
Honor lifts up filmmakers whose work addresses critical issues
LOUISVILLE — A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) documentary examining the root causes and systems that lead children and families to be evicted from their homes has earned an Award of Excellence from the IMPACT DOCS Awards.
The international award for “Evicting the American Dream” follows the March 2025 release of the film written and directed by David Barnhart, who co-produced the documentary with sociologist Dr. Katherine Rowell, a professor emeritus of Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.
The documentary, which has been seen by thousands of people in grassroots screenings around the country and is also available through streaming, is a project of Counter Stories Productions, the Story Ministry of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. The creative team behind it joins a host of other winners tackling tough topics, from the war in Gaza to disability issues.
IMPACT DOCS' mission is “to support and promote filmmakers who are making a difference in the critical issues of our times through producing impactful documentaries and who are inspiring and entertaining audiences with their stories,” the award website notes.
“Evicting the American Dream” delves into the systemic issues and insidious practices that often lead to families being forced out of their homes and into unsafe housing conditions. The voices of experts are juxtaposed with those of children describing the impact of eviction and describing their dreams of better housing.
“We are honored to have ‘Evicting the American Dream’ be selected for an Award of Excellence from the IMPACT DOCS Awards,” Barnhart said. “These awards focus on the power of documentary film and how it is a resource in movements for change, which has always been our hope for this film.”
Rowell, a Del Mar Encore Fellow of the Dayton Foundation, noted that the film is a vehicle for amplifying the voices of marginalized people.
“Documentaries are increasingly an important medium for uplifting voices from communities that are often not represented,” she said. “The story of eviction and housing injustice is a long story of historical injustice. This film offers a compelling story that inspires action.”
It’s important to remember that “we can reduce evictions and family homelessness,” she said. “Policy change is happening and possible. Receiving an impact award elevates and supports further impact of the film.”
The documentary was mostly filmed in Dayton, where community partners helped to lead and shape the project.
“Filmmaking is deeply rooted in relationships and listening, and we feel that this award is both a celebration and recognition of the ‘community’ that came together around this film to amplify the voices and counter stories of children and families — while collectively working together for change,” Barnhart said. “We are deeply grateful to all who have worked with us and come alongside this film over the years and are celebrating this with that community.”
To watch the trailer or sign up to receive updates on grassroots screenings, visit pcusa.org/evicting. You can watch the whole film on Amazon Prime and Roku.
Counter Stories Productions will soon release a new feature film based on the "Trouble the Water" series about race and racism and continues filming documentaries focused on gun violence prevention and environmental racism
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