In a divided America, progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones controversially works across party lines on landmark criminal justice reform and a more humane response to the addiction crisis. Attempting to be a bridge builder in a time of extreme polarization takes Van and a coalition of unlikely allies deep into the inner workings of a divisive administration, internal debates within both parties, and the lives of frontline activists fighting for their communities.Directed by Brandon Kramer and produced by Lance Kramer, THE FIRST STEP is an independent production of Meridian Hill Pictures (CITY OF TREES, PBS, Netflix 2016) and Magic Labs Media, in association with Kartemquin Films (MINDING THE GAP, Hulu, 2019 Oscar Nomination) and Big Mouth Productions (DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD, Netflix 2020) and the editorial talent behind KING IN THE WILDERNESS (HBO, Sundance 2018) and BIRTH OF THE COOL (PBS, Sundance 2019).THE FIRST STEP premiered as an Official Selection at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, and an official selection at AFI DOCS, Bentonville Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, and more than 20 other regional film festivals across the United States including:

AWARDS:2021 Boston GlobeDocs — Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature2021 Bozeman International Film Festival — Best Documentary Feature2021 Woods Hole Film Festival — 2nd Runner-up for Audience Award-Best Documentary Feature2021 DOC NYC 40 Under 40 List — Producer Lance Kramer