November 26, 2015 - 13:29 AMT
Al Jazeera America nabs DOC NYC winner “Motley’s Law”

Nicole Horanyi’s Kabul-set docu “Motley’s Law”, which has just snatched up the Grand Jury prize at DOC NYC, has been acquired by Al Jazeera America (AJAM), Variety reports.

Repped by LevelK, the doc, which will roll out on AJAM in February, follows Kimberley Motley, a former Miss Wisconsin-turned-litigator in Afghanistan, where she faces personal threats and national instability. Motley, who is half African-American and half North Korean, left her husband and three children at home in America to work as a defense lawyer in Kabul — the first and only foreign lawyer licensed to litigate in the Afghan courts.

“Kimberley Motley’s story is unique, there is no one else like her,” said Kim Bondy, senior VP of programs for AJAM. “We’re proud to share the story of her hard work and dedication fighting for those who need it, and to share a new perspective of what life is like in post-war Afghanistan.”

On top of winning the NYC DOC’s Grand Jury prize, “Motley’s Law,” played at Chicago fest and CPH DOX earlier this month. The doc is also currently playing at IDFA in the Panorama section.

Helle Faber from Made in Copenhagen produced the doc with the support of the Danish Film Institute, DR Danish broadcast, MEDIA, YLE, SVT, VPRO, Danish Foreign Ministry, NFTF, CINEREACH TRIBECA FF, MIC and Women Make Movies.

“Motley’s Law” will open in Denmark on Feb. 28.