The five young members of the Bowery Slam Poetry Team are preparing to compete in the National Poetry Slam in Atlanta. They are black, Afro-Hispanic, and queer, and their poetry slams truth to power. Under the tough and wise guidance of coach Lauren Whitehead, who urges them to write out of vulnerability, discomfort, and honesty, they hone their craft in sessions that are often as much group therapy as writing workshops. How far, Lauren worries, can she push them? Reacting to current events — such as the killings of young black men by the police — their poetry achieves an angry eloquence that is amazing to behold. Don’t Be Nice contains moments of stunning emotional urgency, as these young men and women wrestle with their fears and traumas to turn pain into poetry. The eye-opening film raises important questions about race, gender, collaboration, cultural representation, and slam poetry itself.

In competition for the Schlesinger Documentary Award.

Director Max Powers, Producer Nikhil Melnechuk and Executive Producer Melina Brown