In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Angel, a media and technology company successfully pioneering a first-of-its-kind audience-driven studio model, and Wonder Project, an independent studio, distribution platform and trusted brand, today announced a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of State to screen the upcoming film Young Washington at U.S. embassies around the world, as part of a new global screening initiative.
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Courtesy of Angel.
Directed by Jon Erwin and starring William Franklyn-Miller, Golden Globe winners Kelsey Grammer and Mary-Louise Parker, and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, Young Washington tells the story of a young man whose courage, conviction, and character helped shape the course of a nation. Rooted in American history, it is a story about integrity, resilience, and service – values that resonate across cultures and generations. Young Washington is slated for a nationwide theatrical release on July 3, 2026, to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary.
The U.S. Department of State regularly collaborates with the entertainment industry to share American stories, traditions, and the values that define the nation. Through curated international screenings of classic and contemporary films, the Department showcases the creative excellence of the American film industry and the technical artistry that contributes to the global influence of American cinema.
“As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Young Washington takes us back when the leaders we now admire were still discovering who they would become,” said Neal Harmon, Co-Founder and CEO of Angel. “It’s a deeply human story about growth, sacrifice, humility, and leadership earned through adversity and preserved by divine providence. We believe audiences around the world will connect with those themes, and we are honored to partner with the U.S. Department of State.”
Cate Dillon, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs said, “The Department of State is proud to partner with Angel and Wonder Project in support of the global release of Young Washington—a uniquely American story that reminds the world that the ideals behind this nation were forged by real people of courage, character, and conviction. American storytelling remains a vital element of diplomacy, and this film reflects a long tradition of creative works that engage global audiences and highlight the nation’s history and values.”
“At Wonder Project, we believe great stories have the power to shape how people see themselves and the world around them,” said Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, CEO of Wonder Project. “What drew us to Young Washington was the opportunity to explore a chapter of American history through the eyes of a young man whose future was far from certain. Rather than asking audiences to admire a historical figure from a distance, the film invites them to walk alongside him. That’s the kind of story we hope stays with audiences long after the credits roll.”
“One of the privileges of playing Thomas Fairfax was portraying a mentor who recognized potential in a young George Washington long before the world knew his name,” said Kelsey Grammer, who plays Lord Fairfax in Young Washington. “In this film, we see what Fairfax saw – a young man wrestling with responsibility, ambition, failure, and purpose. That humanity is what makes his eventual greatness so inspiring. As this film travels to embassies around the world on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, I hope audiences are reminded that freedom is not just an inheritance, but a responsibility to be carried forward by every generation.”
The U.S. embassy screening series engages audiences, including students, emerging filmmakers, government counterparts, cultural leaders, and the broader public.
U.S. embassies anticipated to participate in the Young Washington Freedom 250 screening include: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia
About Angel
Angel (NYSE: ANGX) is a media and technology company successfully pioneering a first-of-its-kind audience-driven studio model. Founded by brothers who struggled to find films they could watch with their children, Angel was built on the belief that there was a global audience hungry for values-driven storytelling that amplifies light, celebrates hope, and inspires the moral imagination of viewers. That audience became the Angel Guild, a rapidly growing community of nearly 2.5 million paying members who watch, screen, and vote on which films and television series get produced and distributed in theaters and on the Angel app. Angel has achieved the highest audience satisfaction scores in the industry1 and the highest average domestic box office per title among all independent studios since 2023. It has done so while evolving a new economic model that shares profits more fully with filmmakers. For more information, visit www.angel.com.
About Wonder Project
Wonder Project is an entertainment company dedicated to telling courageous stories that inspire hope and restore faith in things worth believing in. Operating as an independent studio, distribution platform and trusted brand, Wonder produces and curates premium content for the faith and values audience. Wonder Project’s subscription service on Prime Video offers original programming alongside an extensive curated library of licensed titles. Learn more at www.thewonderproject.com.
1 www.rottentomatoes.com Popcornmeter (Data sourced April 22, 2026)
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