"AT THE GATES MAKES WHITE SUPREMACY THE VILLAIN"
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"An entertaining and timely thriller that blends the hot button topic of illegal immigration and undocumented workers into a universal story of fear, paranoia, and the perilous state of our own humanity"

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"How a DACA recipient and former street vendor
landed his first lead movie role"
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"AT THE GATES MAKES WHITE SUPREMACY THE VILLAIN"
Click Here

"An entertaining and timely thriller that blends the hot button topic of illegal immigration and undocumented workers into a universal story of fear, paranoia, and the perilous state of our own humanity"

Click Here
"How a DACA recipient and former street vendor
landed his first lead movie role"
Click Here
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"I began to write a script that read like the set-up for a horror film, but the source of dread wasn’t a slasher or a supernatural force, it was a cruel and dangerous government policy."

Ana Ibarra (Vanessa Benavente), a housekeeper from El Salvador, has been working for the Barris family for eight months when she first brings her teenage son Nico (Ezekiel Pacheco) to help her. Told by the Barrises that their family’s home has been visited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents looking for the mother and son during a sweeping crackdown, the pair is grateful when Marianne (Miranda Otto) offers to let them stay in the house until the situation can be sorted out. Her attorney husband Peter (Noah Wyle) appears reluctant to have Ana and Nico stay and imposes a series of strict conditions: Don’t leave the house, don’t stand near windows, turn over all cell phones, stay out of his office and spend nights hidden away in a locked storage space in the basement.

After several days without further visits from ICE, Nico begins to bristle under the restrictions. Breaking the rules and wandering through the house at night, he surprises the Barrises’ teenage daughter Lauren (Sadie Stanley), who has her own misgivings about the Ibarras’ presence.

As time goes by and tensions mount, each family begins to question the other’s motivations in this riveting and emotional thriller.

The Cast

Miranda Otto (marianne Barris)
Miranda has been nominated for Best Actress four times by the Australian Film Institute, an honor that is Australia’s equivalent to the Oscar. Otto also earned an Australian Film Critics Circle Award nomination for her performance in "The Last Days of Chez Nous" and starred in "Love Serenade", which won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. She has worked with such acclaimed directors as Steven Spielberg, Terrence Malick, Peter Jackson, Michel Gondry and Robert Zemeckis. Otto can currently be seen in the theatrical release Talk to Me and the Hulu series “The Clearing.”
Noah Wyle (Peter Barris)
Noah Wyle has appeared in 254 episodes of “ER” over 15 seasons and was also the star of the TNT series “Falling Skies.” More recently, Wyle starred in Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti’s limited series “The Red Line,” for CBS, earning a 2020 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nomination. His other recent works include Matthew Weiner’s “The Romanoffs” and the long-running TNT series “The Librarians.” Wyle has been tapped as the lead in the IMDb/Amazon reboot of the hit series “Leverage.”
Ezekiel Pacheco (Nico Ibarra)
Ezekiel was born in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero, Mexico, but raised in Watts, California, after being brought to the U.S. at the age of 1. While under DACA, he studied to get his degree in business management and began his acting career, alongside his brother Kenny Pacheco. He trained at AGB Studios, and later at Slauson Rec. Theater Company with Shia LaBeouf. Today Pacheco is best known for his performances in the TV series “On My Block,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Chivalry.” AT THE GATES is his feature film debut.
Vanessa Benavente (Ana Ibarra)
Vanessa is best known for her role in the television series “The Chosen,” which has garnered more than 550 million episode views across 175 countries and is currently part of the Sunday lineup on the CW in the U.S. She also starred in Jorge Xolalpa’s feature "Your Iron Lady". She will next be seen in the lead role in "FaceLove". Benavente lives in Los Angeles with her actor husband, Sergio Lanza, and their daughters Olivia and Amaia.
Sadie Stanley (Lauren)
Sadie Was recently profiled in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Big Thing” feature and was also named to Variety’s “Power of Young Hollywood” list. Stanley can currently be seen starring in the second season of Freeform’s hit anthology series “Cruel Summer,” in which she plays the lead role of Megan Landry. She can also be seen in Ray Romano’s directorial debut "Somewhere In Queens". Originally from South Carolina, Stanley’s breakout role came as the title character in the Disney Channel’s live-action adaptation of Kim Possible. she has recurred on the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Dead To Me”. She can be seen on ABC’s “The Goldbergs” in the recurring role of Brea Bee.

The Filmmakers

AUGUSTUS MELEO BERNSTEIN (Director, Writer, Producer) is a writer, director and producer from Los Angeles. He has an M.F.A. in directing from the American Film Institute. Before earning his masters, Bernstein graduated with a degree in cinema studies from the University of Pennsylvania. At the Gates is his directorial feature film debut.

The Filmmakers

AUGUSTUS MELEO BERNSTEIN (Director, Writer, Producer)

is a writer, director and producer from Los Angeles. He has an M.F.A. in directing from the American Film Institute. Before earning his masters, Bernstein graduated with a degree in cinema studies from the University of Pennsylvania. AT THE GATES is his directorial feature film debut.

JHANVI MOTLA (Producer) is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker from Mumbai whose films have shown at Deauville American Film Festival, New York Film Festival, AFI Fest and exhibited on platforms such as Netflix and HBO Max. Her producing works spans across narrative films, documentaries, branded content, commercials and music videos. Her most recent short film, “Mirage, was produced as part of NALIP’s Women of Color Incubator, sponsored by Netflix.

In addition to her producing work, Motla is developing “Mr & Mrs Patel”, her feature directorial debut, as part of the 1497 Mentorship Lab. She is an alumnus of the American Film Institute Conservatory as well as Film Independent’s artist development initiative, Project Involve. Motla is keen to be a part of projects that highlight the stories of people who exist on the fringes of society.
 
PAULO TORRES (Producer) is an artist, filmmaker and producer based in Los Angeles, California. He got his start in the industry working for the renowned music and television producer Benny Medina, the creative force behind “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. He now owns and operates Five Towers, a full service production company in LA. His clients include Jaden and Willow Smith, New Balance, Samsung and many others. AT THE GATES is his first feature film.
 

ALAN TORRES (Director of Photography) is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer best known for lensing the award-winning indie “Same Difference”, as well as a number of short films and music videos.

Torres’ artistic interests focus on story-driven cinematography that enhances what is already on the page. His work has been featured on Hulu, Netflix, Channel 4 and BET+. Torres most recently shot additional photography for the feature “Skater Girl”, the story of a teen in rural India whose life is changed when she discovers a passion for skateboarding.

In addition to his narrative work Torres is working on a documentary in Mexico about Bacanora, an agave-based spirit largely unknown to the world until now. He is also a frequent collaborator with Jaden Smith on his music videos and the fashion company MSFTSrep.

FRIDA OLIVA and ANDREW KIM (Production Designers) are a design duo with an extensive portfolio across television, films and commercials. Their recent work includes Amazon’s special “Yearly Departed” and the feature films “Paradise Highway”, “Faith Based” and “Heartthrob”. Oliva and Kim founded the design firm Wabi Sabi Labs in 2020. Creating spaces that live and breathe and exploring depths in layers are the foundation of their practice.

Hailing from Mexico City, Oliva has been designing movies for a decade. Kim has been art directing and working in the art department for more than 12 years. Both are members of the Art Directors Guild.

JACOB EHRLICH (Editor) has edited several award-winning short films and web series including the award winners “Rinse & Repeat” and “A Dolt’s Life.” Ehrlich makes his feature-film debut with AT THE GATES. Though based in Los Angeles, he recently graduated from Tufts University with a degree in film and media studies as well as computer science.

JULIA NEWMAN (Composer) is a Los Angeles-based film composer and songwriter with a long family history in entertainment. She is the daughter of composer Thomas Newman and one of only two female composers in the Newman dynasty. Her credits include the award-winning web series “Coupled” and she has worked across a variety of media platforms including short films, documentaries and video games.

Newman’s harmonic and textural sensibilities, along with an innate understanding of what constitutes drama, set her sound apart and make her work both recognizable and culturally relevant.

BEACON PICTURES (Production Company) is a film and television production company that has made 48 films and over 200 episodes of prime-time television. Films that Beacon has produced or executive produced include “Air Force One”, starring Harrison Ford; “The Hurricane”, starring Denzel Washington; “Spy Game”, starring Brad Pitt and Robert Redford; “The Family Man”, starring Nicolas Cage; “Ladder 49”, starring John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix; “The Guardian”, starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher; “Children of Men”, starring Clive Owen; “Dawn of the Dead”, starring Sarah Polley; “Bring It On”, starring Kirsten Dunst; “Open Rang”e, starring Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall and Annette Bening; “Thirteen Days”, starring Kevin Costner; and “A Lot Like Love”, starring Ashton Kutcher.

PICTUREHOUSE (Production Company) is a Los Angeles-based content marketing and distribution company led by CEO Bob Berney and COO Jeanne R. Berney. The company acquires, markets and distributes global content across all platforms. Originally formed in 2005 as a joint venture between Time Warner’s HBO Films and New Line Cinema, the Picturehouse brand has a long history of storied excellence. For more information visit Picturehouse.com.

FIVE TOWERS (Production Company) is a full-service production company located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. Established in 2014 by Paulo and Alan Torres; together they have produced a range of work for global brands and talent spanning from Music Videos and Commercials to Narrative work in Short Films, Documentaries and Feature Films. Five Towers work has been featured on Netflix, Hulu, and BET+.

Gallery

Quad Cinema

Tues, Nov. 14

LOOK Dine-In Cinema W57th

Tues, Nov. 14

Weds, Nov. 15

Thurs, Nov. 16

Now Playing in New York & Los Angeles

Q&A SCREENINGS

NEW YORK

LOOK Dine-In Cinemas West 57th

Nov. 10th, 7:15pm – AUGUSTUS MELEO BERNSTEIN, EZEKIEL PACHECO — Moderated By JACK RICO
 
Quad Cinema

Nov. 11, 7:00pm – AUGUSTUS MELEO BERNSTEIN, EZEKIEL PACHECO— Moderated By STEPHEN J. WHITTY

Additional Showtimes

AMC Burbank 8

Tues, Nov. 14

Weds, Nov. 15

AMC Orange Block 30

Tues, Nov. 14

Weds, Nov. 15