East of the River (2018)

Teonna is unexpectedly suspended from school and is faced with a day on the streets of Washington, DC. Teonna encounters Malik, who is also out of school, and Sara, who left school because she saw more economic opportunity on the streets. The three set out for an adventure that takes them east of the Anacostia river.

Created in collaboration with local high schoolers, East of the River It is an unflinching portrait of the education and lived experience of teenagers finding their way through an overburdened public school system.

East of the River had its world premiere at Slamdance Film Festival 2019 in Park City, Utah where it won jury honorable mention and Hannah was awarded the Russo Brothers fellowship.

Hannah Peterson