Two immigrant filmmakers hit the road in search of America’s soul
“One adventure, one unpredictable conversation at a time”
In a country known for talking but not always listening, a bold new project challenges America to do just that.
America Unfiltered begins streaming on Amazon Prime this week, marking the start of a journey that has been five years in the making. The film, produced by Dr. Marc Brackett and co-directed by Horacio Marquínez and Kirill Myltsev, captures the voices and portraits of everyday Americans at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
Over the course of nine months, two immigrant filmmakers — Marquínez, from Panama, and Myltsev, from Russia — crisscrossed the United States, from desert towns to the steps of the Capitol during the January 6th riot. Their mission was simple yet profound: to find America’s soul, one unpredictable conversation at a time. What emerged is a textured, unvarnished portrait of a country grappling with identity, freedom, and belonging.
“Not filtered. Not manufactured. Just the people and what they had to say,” the filmmakers explain.
The project extends beyond the screen with a powerful black-and-white photography exhibition by Marquínez. First shown at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven, Connecticut, and now traveling to venues like the Kenneth Cole Gallery in New York City, the exhibition offers an intimate visual companion to the film. Marquínez’s striking portraits — including haunting images from the Capitol riots — capture vulnerability, strength, and the layered emotions of Americans from every walk of life.
“Marquínez’s eye for, and ability to bring out the emotion in his subjects is humbling,” wrote Brian Slattery in the New Haven Independent.
Adding to the experience, Dr. Brackett, a leading expert in emotional intelligence and the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, has developed a comprehensive study guide for America Unfiltered. Designed for classrooms, community groups, and film screenings, the guide invites deep reflection on the film’s themes, fostering dialogue about political divides, immigration, social justice, and the American Dream.
Jennifer Marx, an Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker, called America Unfiltered “a riveting story that simultaneously kept us on the edge of our seats and delivered us into deep reflection about what unifies our experiences as Americans in this nation.”
For those who have been following the project’s evolution through social media, the filmmakers offer a reminder: stay close. For newcomers, the message is clear: pay attention.
America Unfiltered is more than a film — it is an invitation to listen, reflect, and reconnect with what it means to be American.
For more information, visit www.AmericaUnfilteredMovie.com and see the trailer here.