A Generation Awakens. A City Transforms. A Movement Begins.

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Amid global unrest and a national reckoning with justice and identity, 612: Darkness in the Land of Nice makes its powerful premiere—a documentary chronicling the rise of the post-9/11 generation as they discover their collective power and ignite a movement that echoes far beyond Minnesota.

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Set in the Twin Cities, 612 captures how local students and young people led the largest single-issue protest in modern history following the murder of George Floyd. Their voices, courage, and conviction marked the dawn of a global era defined by youth-led action, a relentless pursuit of justice, and the refusal to accept the status quo.

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As America wrestles with shifting demographics, systemic disparities, and rising demands for equity, 612 reveals the struggles and resilience of a community at the crossroads. It offers an urgent and intimate look at how American ideals often collide with lived realities—and how grassroots leadership can ignite sweeping change.

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Central to this story are four groundbreaking Minnesota-born initiatives that exemplify the spirit of transformation at the heart of 612:

• The Rondo Land Bridge Project in St. Paul reconnects a historically Black community torn apart by urban development, reclaiming both physical space and cultural identity.

• V3 Sports in North Minneapolis creates pathways to success through athletics, wellness, and education—empowering the next generation to thrive.

• The Page Education Foundation, founded by NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, champions education and civic engagement among students of color, equipping them to lead change in their communities.

• Black Men Teach addresses the urgent need for representation in Minnesota classrooms by preparing and retaining Black male elementary educators—reshaping education and inspiring future leaders.

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These initiatives are not separate from the story—they are its natural outgrowth. Born of the same spirit that fueled the protests and sustained the movement, they demonstrate what lasting, systemic change can look like when communities lead the way.

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612 is a powerful testament to local voices and unsung heroes—students, educators, activists, and visionaries—whose everyday actions create extraordinary impact. It captures a city transformed, a generation awakened, and the beginning of a movement still unfolding.

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612 is more than a documentary. It’s a blueprint for change.

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Change Makers and Experts:

• ​Marvin Anderson — Retired Attorney at Law and former Minnesota State Law Librarian. Board Chair, ReConnect Rondo. Executive Director, Rondo Center of Diverse Expression

• Alan Page – Retired Minnesota state Supreme Court judge. Minnesota Viking. College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Erika L. Binger – Founder V3.  Philanthropist. Former Chair McKnight Foundation. Former world triathlete and aquathlete champion.

• Patty Hand – Chief Operating Officer Minnesota Department of Education.

• John Gordon — Former attorney Faegre Baker Daniels, Former Executive Director American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU of MN).

• Maddie and Emma  — University of Minnesota graduate students and community organizers.

• Markus Flynn  – Executive Director at Black Men Teach.

• Henry Lake – Lake Media Group, Talk show host (WCCO, Fox, The Lake Show).

• Susan Brower – Minnesota State Demographer and Director of the Minnesota State Demographic Center.

• Toshira Garrway — Community Activist.

• Delina White – Native Apparel Designer, Jewelry Maker & Beadwork Artist, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

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Production:

• Director/Writer/Producer: Diem Van Groth

• Producer: David M. Massey 

• Executive Producer: Sarah Brokaw 

• Executive Producer: Kokayi Ampah 

• Executive Producer: Clint Schaff

• Executive Producer: Diem Van Groth

• Interview Cinematographer: Tannie Tang

• Interview Cinematographer: Alejandro Miranda

• Protest Cinematographer/Photography: Diem Van Groth

• Interview Production Designer and Art Director: Jose Herrera

• Camera:  Tersharra Hill

• Editor: Jacob Steingroot

• Composer: Norbert Gobor

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Special Thanks:​​

• Fiscal Sponsorship: International Documentary Association (IDA)

• American Film Institute (AFI)

• Story Review: Samuel D. Pollard

• Meredith Lavitt 

• Russell Greene

• Toby Shimin

• Kristen Nutile 

• Mobolaji Olambiwonnu

• Inspiration and Guidance: The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers – West

• Brandon & Lance Kramer, Meridian Hill Pictures 

• Assistant Editor: Lucia Fox-Shapiro

• Legal: Sheri Linzell, Linzell Law

• Legal Review: Lawnie Grant

• Clearing Services: Clearances640

• Accounting: Smith Mandel & Associates, LLP

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Incredible Contributors:

• Brokaw Family Foundation

• David Whitman

• Bert Cohen

• Jodi A. Niehoff

• Lexi Byler

• Jennifer Ramberg

• Joanne Dornan

• Cookie Agnew

• Paula Curtin

• Nan Newton

• Tomme Tobias