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51st State

Sponsored Project

  • Hannah Rosenzweig, Director
  • Diane Robertson, Producer
A young Black man smiles with his arms spread wide in front of a blue and white mural reading "statehood."

About the Project

People call Jamal Holtz the future mayor (or governor) of D.C. At 25, he is a warm, extroverted, “old soul,” passionately dedicated to establishing Washington D.C. as The United States’ newest state. "51st STATE" is a short film that explores the emerging national issue of D.C. statehood from the personal perspective of one of its youngest and most vibrant Gen Z leaders - set against the overlooked cultural backdrop of our capital city and a deep yet virtually unknown crack in our democracy.