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Deep Dive: The Overnighters (2024)

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The Overnighters
The Overnighters is a documentary that focuses on the lives of individuals seeking high-paying jobs during the North Dakota oil boom. It centers on the local Lutheran pastor, Jay Reinke, who opened his church in Williston to provide shelter for over 1,000 people over two years. The film captures the stark reality of affordable housing shortages faced by these workers as they pursue their dreams. Through Reinke's efforts, the film presents a humanizing view of the struggles and aspirations of those drawn to the oil fields. It portrays the complexities of their situations, revealing the harsh conditions they encounter while highlighting the community's response to the influx of outsiders in search of opportunity.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Pastor Jay Reinke in Williston, North Dakota.
  • •See the impact of the oil boom on local communities.
  • •Find out why 1,000 people sought shelter in a church.

Did You Know

•The Overnighters won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance on January 18, 2014.
•The film was screened at the Miami International Film Festival on March 13, 2014.
•Drafthouse Films acquired the distribution rights after its Sundance premiere.
•The film was released in the U.S. on October 24, 2014, with box office donations to housing charities.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsSocial justice advocatesOil industry insights