Directed by Peter Hutchison (“Requiem for the American Dream”, “The Cure for Hate”) and Lucas Sabean (“Healing from Hate”, “The Man Card”) and produced by David Kuhn (“The King”, “Unbanked”), DEVIL PUT THE COAL IN THE GROUND is a poignant look at the devastating legacy of the coal industry and corporate abuse – and the multi-generational impact upon the people, land and communities of West Virginia.
DEVIL PUT THE COAL IN THE GROUND held its World Premiere at Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film, and went on to have a strong festival life winning awards along the way, including Best of Fest at the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, and the Jury Award for Best Feature Film at the Green Film Festival of San Francisco. The film also held prestigious screenings at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, Ashland Independent Film Festival, and over 30 other festivals during its run.
WINNER OF SIX “BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE” AWARDS
When West Virginia broke away from Virginia in 1861 at the start of the American Civil War, its founders did not agree upon the Confederacy or the role of the state in the war. They were, however, united in their interests around the extraction and exploitation of the rich resources of the state – predominantly coal and timber – what would prove to be the dominant theme throughout the history of West Virginia.
Uniquely structured upon personal storytelling of West Virginians, the film draws upon their rich experiences and diverse perspectives in order to create an informal, oral “People’s History of West Virginia”. These individuals run the gamut – from recovering opioid addict, to environmental activist, to U.S. Congressional candidate, to town judge, to recovery center nurse, to corporate environmental lawyer, to struggling local business owner – all of whom, despite their differences, remain linked by the love of their home state and the challenges that threaten their survival, and way of life.
“While the initial interviews for this film were actually intended for another project, the humanity and emotional rawness of the stories we captured were too special not to build a unique film around”, said Sabean. “This film was a labor of love.”
Featuring the iconic music of Steve Earle and Iris Dement, the film marries intimate first-person storytelling with rare archival photography from DOCUMERICA luminary Jack Corn. Stunning aerial footage, bespoke animation, and an original score complete this heartfelt elegy to a vanishing Appalachia.
“Devil Put the Coal in the Ground is poignant because it is real”, said Kuhn. “It’s the voices of the people telling their own stories that is so captivating. I keep longing for the world to deliver justice to West Virginians, knowing it never will. But I also know the people are strong, and they will overcome.”
DEVIL PUT THE COAL IN THE GROUND held its World Premiere at Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film, and went on to have a strong festival life winning awards along the way, including Best of Fest at the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, and the Jury Award for Best Feature Film at the Green Film Festival of San Francisco. The film also held prestigious screenings at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, Ashland Independent Film Festival, and over 30 other festivals during its run.
Peter HutchisonDirector/Producer
Peter is an award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author, educator and activist.His critically-acclaimed films include Requiem for the American Dream (featuring Noam Chomsky), The Cure For Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz, Devil Put the Coal in the Ground, Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation, and the forthcoming The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism (featuring George Monbiot).His books include the Sunday Times #1 bestselling The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism, with George Monbiot (Penguin Books), and the NYTimes bestselling Requiem for the American Dream: 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power, with Noam Chomsky (Seven Stories Press).His longstanding commitment to issues around male identity has resulted in the trio of films You Throw Like A Girl: the Blind Spot of Masculinity, Angry White Men, and The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics. A sought-after commentator on issues of hate, racism and masculinity, he has appeared on NBC, CBS, PBS, NPR, FOX and The Minority Report. A frequent speaker at the invitation of colleges & universities, he holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology.
LUCAS SABEANDirector/Producer
Co-founder of Eat the Moon Films & Big Tent Productions, Lucas Sabean directed, produced & edited the forthcoming The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism, the award-winning Devil Put the Coal in the Ground, The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics, and Angry White Men: Masculinity in the Age of Trump, He produced & edited the SIMA award-winning Healing from Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation , as well as The Cure For Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz.Choreographer Paul Taylor has called his experimental films “superb – like poems made visible.” He has an MFA from Boston University in Film Production and BA from Cornell University.
DAVID KUHNProducer
David has extensive experience in documentary film production, journalism, photography and law. He has served as Director on The Eisenhower Project since 2012, advocating for criminal and social justice reform. He is currently directing and producing Unbanked on the story of bitcoin as a means for social justice (2025), California Story on the cost to communities of color exacted by California’s draconian ‘gang documentation’ policies (2024), and developing Democracy, on the battle to save the American republic (2025).His films include Life After Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation which examines the root causes of hatred among the radicalized Alt Right (2021); the narrative feature Give or Take (2020); the Elvis Presley-inspired The King with director Eugene Jarecki (2016, Grammy & Emmy nominated); The Cyclist (Una Cyclista) (Cuba, 2016 short); and Capturing the Friedmans (2003, Oscar nominated). Prior to starting his own production entity, he served as legal counsel and/or producer for myriad documentaries including: Denial (2016), (T)error (2015), Requiem for the American Dream (2015), and The House I Live In (2012).
How To Watch: Streaming platforms including iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video.
