Polynesian Americans are 28 times more likely to enter the NFL than any other ethnic group, which of course makes the weight on one’s shoulders that much heavier to shake off.

In Football We Trust, is an insightful and moving documentary feature film exploring in rich detail the remarkable story behind the Polynesian Pipeline to the NFL. A contemporary American story, the film transports viewers deep inside the tightly-knit and complex Polynesian community in Salt Lake City, Utah, one of the chief sources for the modern influx of Pacific Islander NFLers. With unprecedented access and shot over a four-year time period, the film intimately portrays four young Polynesian men striving to overcome gang violence and near-poverty through the promise of American football.

Directed by first-time feature filmmakers Tony Vainuku and Erika Cohn, In Football We Trust takes us into the lives of these high school athletes and their families.

Post screening panelists TBA

Making reservations is recommended.

Sponsors: Institute for Policy Studies, the Indie Lens Pop-Up,  WHUT, Busboys and Poets, Center for Media & Social Impact, and Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital.

The Indie Lens Pop-Up series (formely Community Cinema) is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS’s Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and relationships.