Trailer to BET+ film Kemba
BET+ has released the trailer to Kemba, the feature-length film inspired by the work of criminal justice reform advocate Kemba Smith. The film premieres on Thursday, February 22, only on BET+.
Directed by Kelley Kali from a script written by Christine Swanson, the film stars Nesta Cooper, Siddiq Saunderson, Michelle Hurd and Sean Patrick Thomas.
Based on the true story of Kemba Smith, “Kemba” follows the journey of a sheltered college student who falls in love with a man, only to find out he isn’t who he seems. When Kemba learns of her boyfriend Khalif’s true identity as a drug kingpin, he turns abusive—grooming straight-laced Kemba to overlook his illicit dealings. Though she never dealt or handled drugs, in a tragic turn of events, Kemba receives an outrageous sentence for her boyfriend’s crimes—placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs.” Never losing hope, her parents, Gus and Odessa Smith, along with an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund launch a campaign for appeal and later clemency, harnessing the power of Black civic organizations, sororities, celebrities, and lawmakers to help free Kemba.
MPI’s Stacey Parks, Lana Link and Rob Pfaltzgraff will produce, with MPI’s Nick Reid, Kemba Smith, and BET’s Maureen Guthman and Connie Orlando serving as executive producers
