Goodbye Elections. Hello Democracy.

Yes. Every person in this film is real, unscripted, and uncoached. In 2020, 30 citizens from across Michigan were selected through a democratic lottery to develop pandemic policy recommendations for the state. They met online for six weeks — every session filmed from inside their homes. What you see is what happened.

A democratic lottery selects a group of citizen representatives that reflects the makeup of the population — across age, gender, geography, income, race, and political leaning. Citizens who meet basic requirements and are willing to serve put their names forward, and representatives are chosen through multiple rounds of lottery. No campaigns. No parties. No politicians.

Long before there were elections, lotteries were the cornerstone of the first democracy — and in recent decades, they’ve been used hundreds of times around the world to call on citizens to develop policy on challenging issues.

That’s the question at the heart of the film. These 30 citizens were in one of the most divided states, tackling the most divisive issue, during a bitter election. The conditions couldn’t have been harder. What happened is the story.

Neither. The film shows what happened — it doesn’t tell you what to think. Early screenings have moved people across the political spectrum, from progressive reformers to arch-conservative leaders, independently and deeply. This isn’t about left or right. It’s about the people.

The film will be released free online on July 4, 2026 — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Sign up at the top of this page to be among the first to see it.

The film is a production of OF BY FOR, a non-partisan nonprofit. It isn’t backed by a studio, a big nonprofit, or a billionaire — it’s backed by a growing number of Americans, from across the political spectrum, who want others to be able to see what they’ve seen.

The team:

• Adam Cronkright — Director. Cofounder of OF BY FOR and one of the organizers of the Citizens’ Panel featured in the film.
• Graham Clark — Producer, co-writer, lead editor. Credits include The Cowboy and the Queen (Doc NYC, Humanitas Prize, MasterClass), Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie (Tribeca, Hot Docs, Hulu), Play It Forward (Showtime), and State of Play (HBO).
• Mike Bruno — Cinematographer and editorial team. Emmy-nominated for cinematography on Rock & Chisel (Georgia Public Broadcasting). Credits include Surviving the Silence (Best Editing, Paris International Film Festival) and Breaking Through.
• Craig Richey — Composer. Juilliard-trained Sundance Fellow. Credits include Friends with Money and Lovely & Amazing (Nicole Holofcener), The September Issue, Apple TV+’s Dear... (R.J. Cutler), and the Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA-winning short My Nephew Emmett.
• Eric Frith — Editorial team. Films at Sundance, Toronto, SXSW, and Tribeca with 27 Best Film awards and 18 Audience Awards. Most recently executive produced Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy (Hulu).
• Leah Andrews — Assistant editor. Credits include East of the Mountains (Seattle International Film Festival) and The Wild (Best Documentary, Breckenridge).

• See it and share it. Sign up at the top of this page and you’ll be among the first to see the film — and be able to share it and host screenings before the official release.
• Support the film. This film isn’t backed by a studio or a billionaire. It’s made possible by everyday Americans who want others to see what they’ve seen. Support the film financially and join them in the credits — no tiers, no special treatment, just Americans together.
• Volunteer. If you have skills in filmmaking, marketing, grassroots organizing, or nonprofit work, reach out at help@hellodemocracy.org.