If ever there was a perfect example of a festival being overrun by its breakout film then 2016’s Sundance Film Festival and Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation is it.

In a festival well known for shouting about the best fresh new voices in film it was Parker’s film which soaked up this year’s Sundance spotlight. The success of the film is testament to Parker’s determination to tell the harrowing story of Nat Turner, a preacher who lead a slave’s rebellion following his travels to bring the word of God to slaves across America, only to discover the terrible plenitude of the slaves’ suffering.

Fox Searchlight broke the record for a Sundance acquisition and riding the wave of positive reviews they have today released the first trailer, and it’s quite something.

Also starring Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Penelope Ann Miller, and Gabrielle Union we’re hoping to see The Birth of a Nation in the UK soon.

Until then here’s the trailer. Full screen it and up that volume. Souls will be stirred.