Brian Smiar

Gracie -- This touching and intelligent movie about one 15-year-old girl's fight to play varsity soccer on an all-male team is inspired by the real-life events that followed the untimely 1988 death of William Shue (brother of cast members Andrew and Elisabeth Shue).

The Great Debaters -- THE GREAT DEBATERS chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team.

From two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an ensemble cast lead by Washington that includes Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, comes THE GREAT DEBATERS. Inspired by a true story, THE GREAT DEBATERS chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University's championship team. The film is directed by Denzel Washington and stars Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise. THE GREAT DEBATERS was written by Robert Eisele and produced by Todd Black, Kate Forte, Oprah Winfrey and Joe Roth.

Gracie Bowen is your average, ordinary 15-year-old girl, who's determined to play varsity soccer - on the boys' team! But when her school forbids her to play and even her family questions her ability, Gracie sets out on extraordinary quest to prove them all wrong. Fighting to change the school's policy and facing off against some of the toughest competitors on the soccer field, Gracie must summon all of her strength and courage, to finally show the world that a girl with a dream can do absolutely anything! This touching and intelligent movie is inspired by the real-life events that followed the untimely 1988 death of William Shue (brother of cast members, Academy Award-nominee Elisabeth Shue - "Leaving Las Vegas," "Palmetto," Andrew Shue - TV's "Melrose Place"). Also starring Dermot Mulroney ("My Best Friend's Wedding," "Copycat") and Carly Schroeder ("Firewall").