40 Acres | Interview: R.T Thorne

40 Acres is a 2024 Canadian post-apocalyptic thriller film written and directed by R. T. Thorne (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as a matriarch of descendants of African American farmers who settled in 1875 in rural Canada after the first Civil War. Two hundred years later, they are trying to survive in a decimated future.

In a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, the last descendants of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War must protect their homestead from an organized militia hell-bent on taking their land.

R.T. Thorne is a Canadian filmmaker known for his bold visual style and commitment to equality in the industry. As a dynamic and diverse visual storyteller, Thorne has evolved from directing music videos to directing, screenwriting, and producing. His notable works include the Emmy nominated, 12-time Canadian Screen Award winning series The Porter for CBC & BET, and the award-winning Hulu original Utopia Falls. His bold visual style and character-driven approach have earned him multiple award wins across short film, music videos and television, including being named the 2023 Playback Magazine Director of the Year. As Chair of the Director’s Guild of Canada BIPOC members committee, Thorne advocates for equality in the film and TV industry. He makes his debut as a feature film director with 40 Acres, bringing a fresh and authentic perspective to the genre.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024. It was theatrically released on July 4, 2025, by Mongrel Media in Canada.