ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
An intimate look into America’s most progressive criminal justice reformer, Chesa Boudin, as he and his office face the most well-funded opposition to a District Attorney’s policies in US history.

SYNOPSIS
CHESA BOUDIN: RIPTIDE presents the exclusive, inside story behind the most embattled District Attorney’s Office in American history—and the only one to have ever been successfully recalled from office.

Fighting a war on two fronts, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, his staff, and campaign team go up against the most expensive local recall campaign ever, a campaign paid for by conservative billionaires and backed by the San Francisco Police Union, both looking to undo the progressive reforms that Boudin and his staff have implemented.

Inside the DA’s Office, we witness Boudin and his staff fight one of the highest funded police departments in the country as it attempts to subvert Boudin’s efforts to hold them accountable. In addition, relentless attacks from both local and national press keep Boudin’s team on the constant defensive while they somehow simultaneously make good on their promises of criminal justice reform promised to voters.

Meanwhile, finding himself suddenly in campaign mode only halfway through his term, he hits the streets to meet voters face-to-face, intercepting them as they commute to work and even hijacking a parade he wasn’t invited to (where he receives both cheers and jeers). He successfully flips nearly every recall supporter he speaks to directly, but as the election approaches, there’s only so much time to undo the onslaught of misinformation that the Recall Campaign has pumped millions of dollars into.

With explosive interactions between the opposing campaigns and direct access to the key players, CHESA BOUDIN: RIPTIDE offers a raw, firsthand look at the wildest political fray ever captured in a documentary and an essential look at modern American politics.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR John Maringouin
PRODUCER Sean Gillane

The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services for independent filmmakers. TFC’s federal tax ID number is 32-0295081. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Support a TFC Fiscal Sponsorship Project

Please help support this project with a tax deductible contribution. The “donate” button below will take you to PayPal, but a PayPal account is not required to make a donation. You can check out 2 ways:

1. Use your PayPal account
2. Check out as a guest by selecting “Donate with a Debit or Credit Card” (no PayPal account is required)

Transaction Fee

Please consider covering the PayPal transaction fee by selecting the “I’d like to add to my donation to help offset the cost of processing” box on the next page. This will ensure your intended full donation amount will be received for the project.

Alternate Donation Payment Methods

If you prefer to donate by check, Zelle, ACH, or wire transfer, please email us for instructions.

Stock Donations

TFC accepts stock donations. By donating stock that has appreciated for more than a year, you are giving 20% more than if you sold the stock and then made a cash donation, since you will not pay capital gains taxes on the donated stock. Learn more here.

Please email us for instructions to donate stock to a fiscally sponsored project.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Donations

A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations. TFC accepts DAF donations and is on file with most major DAF companies. Provide your DAF TFC’s Tax ID: 32-0295081. If we are already on file with your DAF company, they will process the donation.

Tax Receipts

In compliance with IRS rules, tax receipts for your charitable gift are issued for the amount The Film Collaborative receives after payment processor fees are deducted. The Film Collaborative emails tax receipts in PDF format within 30 days of your online donation. The “receipt” that is immediately sent to you from PayPal after you donate is just a payment receipt, not the tax receipt.

Matching Donations

Many companies have matching gift programs and can help you double your donation to a project of your choosing. Sometimes these programs will match a donation up to a year after it was originally made! Check with your employer—if they have a matching gift program, they will provide you with instructions.

End of Year Giving

November, December, and January are big giving months each year. Donors top up their annual giving in November and December. January is a new fiscal year, and some donors start their giving for the next fiscal year early. Some donors even give at the end of the year and again in January since these donations fall into different fiscal years.

Donors tend to make their large year-end donation decisions before the holidays start. In 2024, that means before December 20. TFC can accept donations by wire, ACH, and Zelle until 5:00pm Eastern Time on December 31. Online donations by credit or debit card can be made until 11:59pm Pacific Time on December 31.