Heartwarming Documentary The Boys And The Bees Comes To Higher Ground

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

  • Higher Ground is partnering to co-distribute the award-winning documentary short The Boys and the Bees.
  • The film is directed by Arielle C. Knight and won the Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction at Sundance.
  • The Boys and the Bees follows a year in the life of a rural Georgia family practicing beekeeping and land stewardship.
  • The documentary premieres November 17 on PBS POV Shorts and marks the first film distributed on Higher Ground’s own channels

Higher Ground, the acclaimed production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, has announced an exciting new partnership to co-distribute the award-winning documentary short, The Boys and the Bees. Directed by rising talent Arielle C. Knight, this heartfelt film is set for a November 17 premiere on PBS’s POV Shorts and will also be available on digital platforms, including Higher Ground’s own YouTube channel. This marks a significant milestone as the first project distributed directly on Higher Ground’s proprietary channels, with the Obamas and Ethan Lewis joining as executive producers.

The Boys and the Bees offers a tender and transformative look at the Ray family, who are meticulously restoring a 12-acre farm in rural Georgia. Through patient, intimate observation, the documentary follows parents Eliza and Nehemiah and their two young sons as they build a life centered on beekeeping, land stewardship, and deep family connection. The film provides a beautiful portrait of Black family life and self-determination, exploring themes of childhood, legacy, and the profound power of reconnecting with the natural world.

Following its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it garnered the prestigious Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction, the documentary has enjoyed an acclaimed festival run, winning multiple Audience and Best Short Film awards. This partnership aligns perfectly with Higher Ground’s mission to platform extraordinary emerging talent and share stories that celebrate joy, resilience, and the human spirit. By bringing this inspiring narrative to a global audience in collaboration with partners like PBS and TIME Studios, Higher Ground continues to expand its impactful slate of nonfiction programming.