At its core, SPEAK is the story of hope, perseverance, and transformation. SPEAK is a powerful and inspiring documentary about conquering life’s hurdles and finding your voice. Set in the multifaceted world of Toastmasters International, where 300,000 members strive to overcome their fear of public speaking, SPEAK follows six unforgettable finalists as they prepare and compete in a grueling contest to be named “World Champion of Public ing.” Each struggles with seemingly insurmountable personal and professional difficulties, but in the end, one contestant bravely emerges as the World Champion. In a society based on free expression, a surprising number of people have no voice. Their silence comes from fear, with the most primal fear of all: the fear of public speaking. Set against this backdrop, the film focuses on the very up-close, personal journeys of the selected finalists: an actor, an amputee motivational speaker, a college professor, an IT guy, a single mom suffering from Lupus, and a retiree. Viewers get to know each finalist as they share their personal stories about their life’s hurdles and triumphs, watch their preparation, and compete for the ultimate public speaking prize. What’s more, the film follows two of the finalists in the aftermath, making this more than just a story about a competition. One returns home to pick up the pieces of the life he put on hold in the quest to be the best, the other faces life and death and the struggle to leave a legacy when your time has run out. SPEAK includes an interview with Toastmaster headliner, journalist, author and MSNBC host Chris Matthews, who became a Toastmaster while working on Capitol Hill. SPEAK is a contest film like no other.

Starring:

Rich Hopkins, Chris Matthews, Robert Mackenzie, Katherine Morrison

Genre:

Documentary, Drama