NEW YORK, NY – December 11, 2025 — Andscape, The Walt Disney Company’s content imprint for sports storytelling rooted in Black culture, today released the official trailer and key art for “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams,” a powerful short documentary exploring how Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama used basketball as a tool to unite communities, inspire civic engagement, and spark generational change. To honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the film will premiere on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on January 19, 2026.
Directed by artist and filmmaker Glenn Kaino (With Drawn Arms), the film — recently named Best Documentary Short by the African American Film Critics Association — uncovers the untold story of how Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a team of civil rights activists utilized the basketball court to engage young voters, win hearts, and shape community outreach. It’s a strategy that continues to resonate in contemporary politics, most visibly in President Obama’s historic campaign, where basketball again served as a bridge across generations, cultures, and coalitions. In connecting these eras, Hoops, Hopes & Dreams offers a deeply felt narrative about the cultural power of sport to move people, galvanize movements, and create change.
The film blends archival footage, vivid animation, and interviews with Ambassador Andrew Young, a close aide to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., NBA legend Jerry West, journalist Jemele Hill, Executive Vice President of The Obama Foundation Michael Strautmanis, and Reginald L. Love, former Duke basketball player and personal aide to President Obama.
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams has been showcased at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Palm Springs International ShortFest among others. The film earned the Best Documentary Short Award at the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival, a juried award of Best Global Short in the festival’s “For the Love of Sport” program at SCAD, and received Special Jury Recognition at the Hamptons International Film Festival – a recognition for innovative storytelling through animation, social commentary and interviews.
Producers of the film include former NBA executive and Obama campaign strategist Alexys Feaster; Glenn Kaino and actor-activist Jesse Williams for VISIBILITY, a values-driven culture studio using storytelling across film, gaming, and creative media. Afshin Shahidi also produced along with Michael Latt who for years with his firm Lead with Love focused on elevating Black creatives and other underrepresented voices in Hollywood. As the company’s founder, the late Latt prioritized fostering meaningful connections between audiences and projects rooted in empathy, inclusion, and social responsibility.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, serves as Executive Producer and said of the film: “This film captures something essential about my father: his ability to meet people where they were and help them channel their energy into building bridges that lay the foundation for creating the Beloved Community. Basketball was one of those bridges. I’m grateful to stand alongside this remarkable starting lineup of filmmakers as we share a story that honors our past while inspiring the next generation to lead with courage, compassion, and community.”
About Andscape:
Andscape is a content studio that explores the depth of Black identity through its power in sports and culture. Magnified by the power and reach of The Walt Disney Company, the Andscape umbrella includes daily journalism, film, television, book publishing and music.
For more information, visit www.andscape.com.
About Hulu:
Hulu is a leading premium streaming service that offers an expansive slate of live and on-demand entertainment through a wide array of subscription options that give consumers ultimate control over their viewing experience. For more than 17 years, Hulu has provided access to a library of hit TV series and films, including exclusive licensed content and award-winning Originals. As Disney’s global general entertainment brand, Hulu content is available to view on Disney+ outside the U.S. In the U.S., Hulu is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings with different combinations of Disney+ and ESPN and can be further personalized through a variety of premium and Live TV add-on subscriptions. With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of 95+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels and can access Hulu’s on-demand library, plus Disney+ and ESPN in their respective apps, all in one plan. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.
About VISIBILITY:
VISIBILITY is a culture studio that creates projects that generate empathy and entertain and enlighten communities with diverse stories. VISIBILITY creates award-winning films, art and video games, including the Emmy-nominated With Drawn Arms and popular mobile game BLeBRiTY.
