Description

In a country where 58% of African American 4th graders are functionally illiterate, The Lottery uncovers the failures of the traditional public school system and reveals that hundreds of thousands of parents attempt to flee the system every year. The Lottery follows four of these families from Harlem and the Bronx who have entered their children in a charter school lottery. Out of thousands of hopefuls, only a small minority will win the chance of a better future.
Directed by Madeleine Sackler and shot by award-winning cinematographer Wolfgang Held, The Lottery uncovers a ferocious debate surrounding the education reform movement. Interviews with politicians and educators explain not only the crisis in public education, but also why it is fixable. A call to action to avert a catastrophe in the education of American children, The Lottery makes the case that any child can succeed.

Cast

The Interviewees: Cory Booker, Geoffrey Canada, Candice Fryer, Betsy Gotbaum, Meredith Gotlin, Joel Klein, Jim Manly, Eva Moskowitz, Jessica Reid, Susan Taylor, Dacia Toll, Paul Tough.

The Families: Eric, Shanna, Eric Jr. and Nathanael Roachford; Laurie, Gregory Sr. and Gregory Jr. Goodwine; Emil and Christian Yoanson; Nadiyah and Ameenah Horne

Festivals

Tribeca Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
Wisconsin Film Festival
Sarasota Film Festival
Cleveland International Film Festival

Production Credits & Notes

Madeleine Sackler ... director
James Lawler ... producer
Blake Ashman ... producer
Todd Bartels ... associate producer
Erin Lanuti ... co-producer
Madeleine Sackler ... producer

Cast
  Cory Booker ... Himself
  Geoffrey Canada ... Himself
  Joel Klein ... Himself
  Eva Moskowitz ... Herself
  Susan Taylor ... Herself
  Dacia Toll ... Herself

Original Music
  Tunde Adebimpe
  Gerard Smith

Cinematographers
  Wolfgang Held

Editors
  Madeleine Sackler

Sound Department
  Bryan Dembinski ... additional sound mixer
  Sebastian Henshaw ... sound designer
  Ryan M. Price ... sound re-recording mixer
  Ryan M. Price ... supervising sound editor
  Mike Silvestri ... additional sound mixer
  Matthew Sutton ... sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
  Daniel Carter ... additional cinematographer
  Daniel Carter ... assistant camera
  Wayne De la Roche ... additional cinematography
  Alan Jacobsen ... additional cinematography
  Laela Kilbourn ... additional cinematography
  Martina Radwan ... additional cinematography
  Emily Wirth ... assistant camera