Watch Immutable

In the shadow of power and privilege, students in the Washington Urban Debate League push themselves to become top-tier debaters, determined to change the course of their lives.

Immutable

Immutable is a feature documentary that follows a group of students from the Washington Urban Debate League as they fight to find their voices in a world that too often tries to silence them. Against the backdrop of a city marked by inequality — and in the lingering shadow of the COVID pandemic —these young debaters confront daily challenges that range from housing instability to neurodivergence. For some, debate is a path to college. For others, it’s a lifeline.

We meet them at summer camp, where their journey begins—not just to win tournaments, but to sharpen arguments that reflect their own lives. One girl, autistic and fearless, demands the world see people with special needs as whole. Others argue for economic policy reforms while navigating poverty themselves. As multiple seasons unfold, Immutable captures the grit, intellect, and heart of students who are determined to not only become top-tier debaters but to change the course of their lives.

Funding

Major Funding for IMMUTABLE was provided by The Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation. Funding was also provided by Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Family Foundation, Thomas Donilon and Cathy Russell , Stanley and Margaret Jaffy, The Rockefeller Foundation, Marilyn Wallach, James and Cathy Stone, Alan and Madeleine Blinder, Alan and Frances Franken, Diana Zuckerman, Jack N. Goodman, Roy and Nancy Herron, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation, Harvey Mackay, The Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg PC, Adam Aron, and others. A complete list is available from PBS.

Credits

Executive Producers Charlie Sadoff, Gabriel London
Co-Producer Nick Clark
Director of Photography Michael Flanagan
Production Manager Jillian A. Goldstein
Associate Producer Michael Flanagan
Motion Design & VFX Produced By Stellar Hawk

Motion Designers
Joe Vaccarino, Isaac Sommers

Archival Producer Jillian A. Goldstein

Location Sound Mixers
Michael Hounshell, Bernard Ozol, Rodrigo Salvatierra, Greg Breazeale, Paul Schmitz, Ben Sands, Matthew Glover, Robert Bluemke, Chad Mellendick, Shelby Watson, Benjamin Eckstein

Camera Operators
Sam Hartson, Daniela Mileykovsky, Marcus Bullock, William Charles Moss, Jillian A. Goldstein, Gabriel London

B-Unit Camera Operator Ellie Walton
Production Coordinator Pearl Thomas
Consulting Elise Rappoport

Production Assistants
Aayanna Collier, Eden Daniel, Eileen Street, Wyatt Prominski

Grip and Lighting Equipment Provided By Cheer Films
Color By Company 3
Finishing Colorist Patrick Devine
Finishing Producer Dom Lampasona
Associate Finishing Producer Anthony Romaguera
Color Assistant Andrew Alvarez
Finishing Executive Jim Gardner
CO3 Head of Production Michael Maida
CO3 NY President Jonathan Hoffman
CO3 Executive Producer Stefan Sonnenfeld
Post Sound Services Nocturnal Sound
Re-recording Mixer Eli Cohn
Dialogue Editor Joseph Magee
FX Editor Jack Sasner
Legal Services Marilyn G. Haft, P.C. Fair Use Attorneys Ja
Accounting Services James Frederick, CPA

Footage & Stills Provided By
Charles “Teenie” Harris via Getty Images, Pond5, Shutterstock, CBS News/Veritone

Locations Furnished By
BASIS Washington, D.C., Ben’s Chili Bowl, Capital City Public Charter School CMIT North High School, DC Bilingual Public Charter School, DC Public Library, Georgetown Day School Kettering Middle School, McKinley Tech High School Phelps High School, School Without Walls DC Yu Ying Public Charter School

Special Thanks
Addie Lowenstein, Alex Rose-Henig, Anita Berger, Cara Fuller, Christian Yarberry, Dartmouth Debate Institute, Daniela Anello, Diana Delgado, Elizabeth & Jerry Sadoff, Gabe Koo, Jake Lee, Jeff Kahn Jessica Berenson, Jonathan Cruz, Judge Ken Karas, Karen Dresden, Mikva Challenge, Nathaniel Metts, Rhonda Slade, Robert Tempchin, Liv Birnstad Family, Danielle Choi Family, Ayo Ejiko family, C’harday Eury and Howard Families, The Free-McCauley Family, Tatum Garrett Primus Family, Sitara Mazumdar Family, Noah Millhouse Family, Dailyn Wray Family, The WUDL community of students, families, coaches, judges and volunteers

In Memoriam
Keoni Scott-Reid (1998-2019), Matthew Harris Ornstein (1980-2015)

America
Writers: Ernest Anthony Price, (Olusola Pierce Ramsey), (Joshua Elijah Cameron)
Publishers: Universal Music Corp. on behalf of itself and Tone P Of The BKS
Produced, & Performed by Tone P, Co-production by Olusination, Courtesy of District Funk Records, ASCAP

Splash Girl
Writer: Ernest Anthony Price
Publishers: Universal Music Corp. on behalf of itself and Tone P Of The BKS
Produced by Tone P, Additional production by Godfather, Timbales by Slump, Courtesy of District Funk Records, ASCAP
Additional arrangements by Tmaur3 Courtesy of District Funk Records
Additional Music Premium Beat

Extreme Music Original Production Funding provided by:
The Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation, Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Family Foundation, Thomas Donilon and Cathy Russell

Stanley and Margaret Jaffy The Rockefeller Foundation Marilyn Wallach James and Cathy Stone Alan and Madeleine Blinder Alan and Frances Franken Diana Zuckerman Jack N. Goodman Roy and Nancy Herron Bloomberg Philanthropies Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation Harvey Mackay The Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg PC Adam Aron Philip Lader Jonathan Rauch Paula Stern Edward and Lynn Dolnick Eugene Tillman Thomas E. Mann EJ Dionne and Mary Boyle Martin Latz Deborah Tannen Joseph Sellers and Laurie Davis Hundt Family Foundation, Inc. Bernie Arons David Burger James Belson Miriam and Bill Galston Susan Ness and Larry Schneider Barry Zigas and Jodie Levin-Epstein Kevin and Mary Rhein Larry and Mara Wolf Barbara Etkind Thomas and Ann Friedman Shira McVean Debbie Lamm Sander Levin Matthew Nuss

For WETA
Kate Kelly, Daniel Yang, Dani Cook, Sarah Wallace

IMMUTABLE

This program is a production of Found Object, LLC, which is solely responsible for its content. © 2025 Found Object, LLC. All rights reserved.