The first trailer for Jamaican director Storm Saulter’s indie drama Sprinter has been released ahead of its world premiere at the African Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami June 14 and 15.

The film, written by Saulter and shot on location in Jamaica, stars newcomer Dale Elliot as Akeem Sharp, “a Jamaican teen burdened by an unstable father and an unruly older brother” who hopes “a meteoric rise in track-and-field can reunite him with his mother, who has lived illegally in the U.S. for over a decade.”

Sprinter also stars Kadeem Wilson, Dennis Titus, Shantol Jackson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Lorraine Toussaint and David Alan Grier. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith produce via their Overbrook Entertainment production company, as well as NBA veteran Richard Jefferson.

“I’m truly excited for the world to see Sprinter,” said Saulter. “With all of the economic hardships taking place around the world forcing families to separate we have such a timely and personal story that I feel will resonate with a lot of people. It was a pleasure bringing this project to life, and I look forward to sharing this moment with our cast, team and audiences at ABFF.”

“Growing up with my feet firmly planted in both Jamaica and the US, it’s thrilling and extremely gratifying to come full circle with Sprinter, a universal story authentically rooted in the Caribbean’s diasporic experience and a sport everyone understands,” said producer Robert Maylor. “Storm expertly eschews stereotypical images of Jamaica while adeptly crafting an entertaining, coming-of-age journey the region is already rallying behind with anticipation and well wishes. Similarly, the support received from our incredible partners and team cannot be overstated. While by no means an exhaustive list, we wish to thank everyone from Overbrook Entertainment, Puma, Flow, and especially our talented cast and crew for making Sprinter possible.”

Watch the trailer below:

Dennis Titus

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