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Logline

A rogue teacher turned filmmaker sets out on a global investigation into the corporate dismantling of public education—uncovering how billionaires, far-right ideologues, and privatization zealots are sabotaging democracy by targeting institutions of learning.

Synopsis

Class Wars is a cinematic feature documentary about the war on public education—and the global forces behind it.

The film follows a former high school history teacher who quits after being harassed by far-right groups accusing him of “Marxist indoctrination.” Burned out and furious at the rise of anti-intellectual authoritarianism in the U.S., Joseph picks up a camera and launches a personal investigation into a question many educators are too overwhelmed to ask: Why is public education being dismantled—and who benefits?

What begins in the American heartland expands into a sweeping global exposé. Filmed across the U.S., U.K., Germany, Canada, and Australia, Class Wars reveals how tech billionaires, private equity firms, and nationalist politicians are working in lockstep to privatize education, harvest student data, and erode democracy from the ground up.

Blending vérité filmmaking, archival storytelling, expert interviews, original animation, and academic research, the film weaves together the personal and political, local and international. It features frontline educators, whistleblowers, students, and parents—all caught in a conflict where classrooms have become ideological battlegrounds.

Class Wars channels the urgency and irreverence of Bowling for Columbine, with a teacher’s voice at its center. From defunded schools in Oklahoma to post-fascist classrooms in Berlin, Joseph uncovers eerie parallels—and vital resistance—across borders. In a post-pandemic reality where Project 2025 is in full swing, the film asks: What happens to democracy when public education is destroyed—and how, or what, do we rebuild?
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Joseph Erikson – Writer/Director/Producer
A former high school teacher and first-time filmmaker, Joseph brings a lived perspective to the war on public education. After being targeted by far-right groups, he began documenting the political forces dismantling schools worldwide. A first generation graduate with a dual master’s in teaching and film, his feature debut is an explosive entry into the American social-political film canon. Joseph is based in Portland, OR.

Kurt Engfehr – Producer/Editorial Consultant
Editor and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine, Kurt brings decades of experience in provocative yet broadly accessible documentary filmmaking and story structure to Class Wars.

BJ Maier – Producer/Archival Producer
An editor and producer working across documentary and scripted formats (For All Mankind, The Boys, Segal ), BJ brings industry discipline and creative strategy to the post-production and pitch process.

Heidi Zimmerman – Editor
Heidi Zimmerman is a seasoned documentary editor with over 15 years of experience in shaping compelling narratives. Her portfolio includes acclaimed films such as Black Barbie, Fish & Men, and recent award-winner The Invisible Mammal. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Heidi honed her craft under the mentorship of Academy Award-winning editor Pietro Scalia. Heidi is based in Portland, OR.

Paul Culp – Art Director
Paul Culp is the founder and CEO of SuperGenius, a Portland-based art and animation studio known for high-impact visual work on major franchises including God of War, The Matrix, and Tony Hawk. With decades of experience in interactive media and storytelling, Paul brings cinematic flair and narrative cohesion to every frame. For Class Wars, he leads the film’s visual identity and animated sequences—crafting a bold, story-driven aesthetic rooted in resistance and emotion.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.