The documentary “Separated,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Errol Morris, focuses on the Trump administration’s inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August, followed by a screening at the Telluride Film Festival in September.

Based on Jacob Soboroff’s 2020 book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” the 93-minute documentary combines interviews with U.S. government officials and narrative vignettes that trace one migrant family’s struggles. From 2017 to 2021, the Department of Homeland Security reported that 3,881 children were separated from their families, and the film examines the U.S. government’s role in creating and enforcing these border policies that have left thousands of children separated from their parents.

“It’s an attempt to tell a story that we should all relate to emotionally,” said Morris, who won the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary in 2004 for “Fog of War.” “It’s not just about political malfeasance or bureaucracy, but about people. People like you and me. It’s not about other people. It’s about people.”

“Separated” is a co-production from Participant, Fourth Floor, Moxie Pictures, and NBC News Studios, but Morris did not have a distribution deal with NBC Universal-owned Peacock or Focus during production. This lack of a streaming deal is significant, as major U.S. distributors like Netflix and Apple have become hesitant to take on controversial political content.

Starting on October 4, “Separated” will have a week-long Academy Award qualifying run at the IFC Center in New York, with Submarine Deluxe releasing the film theatrically.

At Venice, Morris expressed a desire for the documentary to be released before the upcoming U.S. Presidential election on November 5. He emphasized, “I hope that it will make a difference,” and described the film as “an essay on fascism.”

Morris reflected on the moral implications of the policies he critiques, stating, “The idea that somehow you would hurt children as a matter of policy seemed unthinkable… These are policies that could happen again, and we must ensure that they never, never, never happen again.”

“Separated” marks the third feature documentary from MSNBC Films to qualify for Oscar consideration, following JR’s “Paper & Glue” in 2021 and Lina Plioplyte’s “Periodical” in 2023.

Amanda Spain, MSNBC Films VP of Longform Acquisitions, praised Soboroff’s in-depth reporting on immigration and Morris’s cinematic storytelling, stating, “We feel privileged to bring this film to audiences, to support the work of these visionary storytellers and the courageous participants.”