Fremantle, BMG and WhyNow Studios are proud to announce new feature film Rebel Country. The feature-length documentary explores a new breed of authentic stars who are rewriting the rules and challenging the culture of country music.
Rebel Country explores the current tensions of race, class, poverty, gender, sexuality and creativity versus commerce and geography that are still prevalent in the United States today, while acknowledging their connection to Nashville’s rebellious roots. Fremantle is handling worldwide sales.
It was also announced earlier today, Rebel Country will have its world premiere in NYC at the upcoming 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in the Spotlight+ category and will include a special appearance from country music artist BRELAND.
Rebel Country is directed by Francis Whately (Five Years, Dolly Parton: Here I Am). Executive producers are BMG, and Gabriel Jagger and Janet Lee for WhyNow Studios.
Director Francis Whately, said, “I am excited to have Rebel Country premiere in this current moment that the country music genre is experiencing. The musicians, noted music journalists, and historians included in the film help give a broad picture of the genre and its influences over the years and a glimpse into the future. Through archival footage and exclusive performances filmed in cinematic locations we are able to uncover and explore decades of music, celebrating the rebels from past and present,”.
Musicians in the film include Grammy-nominated rapper turned-country singer Jelly Roll, who from his days selling his mixtapes out of his car has constantly been releasing new music, touring relentlessly, consistently topping various charts, engaging an enthusiastic fanbase and creating videos that have amassed more than four billion views on YouTube.
Jelly Roll has had a remarkable 2023, releasing three number one records, winning CMT, CMA, People’s Choice, People’s Choice Country & Pollstar awards, and strength as an artist and performer. Country music star Lainey Wilson who rose to fame in 2021, landing her first number one with her Platinum-Certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams.
Blanco Brown whose viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms, changing that way that country music was seen, heard, and consumed by a new generation of audiences.
Country music artist BRELAND introduced himself in the industry with his massive debut viral hit "My Truck" in 2019 and has since continued to develop his artistry and style, collaborating with big-hitters in the genre from Keith Urban to Dierks Bentley, challenging and changing the country music landscape from within. Other artists in the film include Sam Williams (grandson of Hank Williams), Lindsay Ell, Frank Ray, Chely Wright, Rissi Palmer and Jake Blount.
