612: DARKNESS IN THE LAND OF NICE

612: Darkness in the Land of Nice is an Oscar-qualified documentary that examines the aftermath of 2020 through the lens of Minnesota—ground zero for a global reckoning on race, justice, and power. What began as filmmaker Diem Van Groth documenting history in real time on his phone evolved into a six-year journey of truth-seeking, capturing hundreds of hours of interviews, community voices, frontline activism, and lived experiences.

Set in a state often ranked among the best places to live—yet one of the worst for Black residents—612 exposes the painful contradiction between progress and inequality. The film follows a new generation coming of age in the shadow of protest, asking whether promises of reform became meaningful change—or whether the headlines faded before the work began.