Synopsis
From a basketball academy in West Africa to the high-pressure world of American prep schools, ELEVATE documents the extraordinary personal journeys of four particularly tall West African teenagers with big hearts, open minds, and NBA dreams. The SEEDS Academy in Dakar, Senegal, sits on a small plot of land leased from the government. There, the best young basketball players from across West Africa gather to take part in a strenuous program of academics and athletic training. For those who stand out, the potential reward is huge: full scholarships to the top prep schools in the United States, where the right combination of skill and dedication will earn them a great education, pave the way to college, and open the door to basketball at the NCAA level...and maybe even a shot at the NBA. For the four young men who make the cut, receive scholarships, and head off to the USA, their lives are changed forever. Filmed over four years and across two continents, ELEVATE documents the daunting challenges they face, from the alienation that comes with being a seven foot tall Muslim at a Christian prep school (in an American culture rife with African stereotypes) to mastering English, adapting to aggressive American-style basketball...and navigating the vagaries of high school, girls, and drivers ed.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $3,547 (63.6% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 1.57 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 1 opening theaters/2 max. theaters, 0.5 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $7,578 |
Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists
| Record | Rank | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 17,501-17,600) | 17,530 | $5,580 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 36,101-36,200) | 36,186 | $5,580 |
| All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 8,501-8,600) | 8,555 | $5,580 |
See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | October 21st, 2011 (Limited) by Variance Films |
| MPAA Rating: | PG for brief mild language. (Rating bulletin 2193, 10/12/2011) |
| Running Time: | 82 minutes |
| Comparisons: | Create your own comparison chart… |
| Keywords: | Religious, Basketball, Immigration, Culture Clash, Coming of Age |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Documentary |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Factual |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Sharp 7, Variance Films, ESPN Films |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |