Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from the upcoming environmental drama On Sacred Ground. This movie is the first narrative depiction of the events of the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests and construction in a feature film. On Sacred Ground is based on true events and follows Daniel, a journalist and military veteran, who gets a lot more than he bargained for when he takes on this assignment. Daniel finds himself torn between oil company executive Elliot and the Native Americans whose land is being stolen and destroyed to create the pipeline.
While many believe they know the story of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction and protests because of the news coverage in 2016, On Sacred Ground will show the true horrors that surrounded this intense protest. The movie depicts one of the most heated protests in Native American history as they fight against both the government and a major oil company. On Sacred Ground is not a traditional historical fiction movie, with the events that inspired it happening less than ten years ago.
More About On Sacred Ground
Screen Rant’s exclusive On Sacred Ground clip shows Daniel (William Mapother) learning the darker truths about how the local law enforcement is handling these protests. A source shares their own experience with him about how the Sheriff’s Department came in to violently interrupt the protests with percussion grenades and beatings. She also tells him about the scare tactics used to try and break the protestors’ spirits as they were forced to watch their sacred land, their burial grounds, destroyed for hours before being taken to a garage where they were treated like animals. Daniel is horrified as he learns more about these protests and the actions taken to stop them.
In 2016, the Dakota Access Pipeline was plastered across every new station with debates about the protests and energy independence hot-button topics. However, this new 2023 release will tell the story as it never has before. On Sacred Ground will bring audiences to ground level with the protestors, the oil executives, and the journalist desperately searching for the truth. On Sacred Ground will take a new approach to this story by telling it from the ground level, which will reveal ugly truths that weren’t given enough attention while it was a constant story for countless outlets.
On Sacred Ground is directed and written by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell, alongside William Mapother as co-writer. On Sacred Ground stars David Arquette, William Mapother, Amy Smart, Kerry Knuppe, Frances Fisher, Irene Bedard, Mariel Hemingway, David Midthunder, and Che Jim.
On Sacred Ground will be available in select theaters and On Demand on January 13.