J.M. Harper’s ‘Soul Patrol’ Wins Director Award: U.S. Documentary - ‘Soul Patrol’ At Sundance

Soul Patrol, directed by J.M. Harper, premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, uncovering a largely untold chapter of American military history. The documentary centers on the first all-Black special operations unit to serve during the Vietnam War and the lasting impact of their service.

The film follows Ed Emanuel and his fellow soldiers from the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, an elite unit tasked with high-risk missions behind enemy lines. While operating in combat zones abroad, the men were also grappling with the reality of being Black Americans during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, fighting for a country that often denied them equality at home.

The documentary is framed around a reunion of surviving unit members more than fifty years after the war. Through candid conversations, the veterans reflect on brotherhood, trauma, and the emotional weight they carried long after returning home.

Harper blends archival footage, personal film shot during the war, and present-day interviews to construct a deeply personal narrative. The documentary also situates these experiences within the broader political and social unrest of the late 1960s, highlighting the disconnect many Black veterans faced upon their return.

Produced by Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, J.M. Harper, Nasir Jones, and Peter Bittenbender, with executive producers including Ed Emanuel and Davis Guggenheim, Soul Patrol runs approximately 100 minutes. The film received strong critical response at Sundance and earned the Directing Award in the U.S. Documentary category.