Toronto-based Good Soup Productions has commenced shooting the feature documentary Speechless in association with the Copenhagen-based non-profit The Why Foundation.

Directed by Montreal-born, Emmy Award-winning Ric Esther Bienstock (Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, pictured), the film will examine the ideological clashes taking place on university and college campuses in the U.S.

Speechless is produced by Bienstock and Garfield L. Miller. Alex Gibney, Why Foundation CEO Mette Hoffmann Meyer and Randi Kirshenbaum are onboard as executive producers.

Production is aiming to be completed this fall, a spokesperson for the film told Playback Daily.

CBC and BBC’s factual strand BBC Storyville have broadcast rights to the film, which does not currently have U.S. distribution.

Financing for the film is provided by CBC and BBC license fees, the Rogers Documentary Fund, Rogers Cable Network Fund, Ontario Creates and private equity, the spokesperson said.

“In these dangerously polarized times, I thought it was essential to investigate the institutions shaping the minds of our future citizens and leaders,” said Bienstock in a statement.

Image courtesy of Good Soup Productions