Higher Ground has partnered to co-distribute "The Boys and the Bees," the award-winning short documentary directed and produced by Arielle C. Knight and produced by Sean Weiner.

President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Ethan Lewis will join the film as executive producers.

"The Boys and the Bees," won the Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Set on a 12-acre farm in rural Georgia, the documentary follows Eliza and Nehemiah Ray and their young sons, Carver and Aaro, as they build a life centered on beekeeping, land stewardship, and family.

"Platforming extraordinary emerging talent like Arielle and stories like the Ray family’s has always been central to the vision of Higher Ground," said Lewis, head of nonfiction at Higher Ground. "We’re honored to help make this beautiful portrait of family, joy, and childhood accessible to the world alongside POV Shorts, PBS, Time Studios, and Switchboard Magazine."

"In a moment defined by ecological crisis and social fragmentation, "The Boys and the Bees," points toward another way of being, one rooted in interconnection and in the simple, profound act of staying close to the land and to each other," said Knight.

Since its Sundance premiere, the film has received the Audience Award at the Atlanta Film Festival, Best Documentary Short and Best of Fest at the Nevada City Film Festival, and Best Documentary Short at the Ouray Film Festival, Salute Your Shorts, and Beyond: The Cary Film Festival. It has also screened at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, True/False Film Fest, and the DOC NYC Shortlist.

"The Boys and the Bees," will premiere on Nov. 17 as part of Season 9 of POV Shorts on PBS. It will be available digitally on Time Studios, Switchboard Magazine, and Higher Ground’s YouTube channel.