“The Birth of a Nation” started getting attention even before it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was snapped up by Fox Searchlight for $17.5 million.

The film, about a Virginia slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in 1831, was a labor of love for actor/director, producer Nate Parker, who spent eight years working on the project. It received a standing ovation at the storied Utah film festival.

A longer version of the official trailer was recently released.

Watch the trailer here.

The film, shot in Savannah, will hit theaters in October.

Related:

The Birth of a Nation earns praise and dollars

See a movie poster come to life

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Jo'wan Bellamy taught in the GNETS program for 17 years and recently transferred to Atlanta’s new behavioral program at Crawford Long Middle School. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com