The Final Year tracks the foreign policy team assembled by Barack Obama over the course of 2016, as they travel the world attempting to solidify and “lock-in” policies that they believe will define their legacy, promote diplomacy over large-scale military action, and fundamentally alter how the US government confronts questions of war and peace. Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, Deputy National Security Advisor and presidential confidant Ben Rhodes, as well National Security Advisor Susan Rice and President Obama himself tackle the unfolding crisis in Syria (and Russia’s role), visiting families during the Boko Haram kidnapping, the Iran nuclear deal, the resurgence of nationalism, and the results of the US election that challenge this legacy in unexpected and fundamental ways.

Greg Barker looks for strong personal narratives that illuminate the complexities and moral ambiguities of global politics and war. Barker secured unprecedented access to the White House and State Department for The Final Year, capturing the emotions and human dynamics behind American diplomacy at its highest levels. With his longstanding producing partners John Battsek and Julie Goldman, Barker’s films include HBO’s Manhunt, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, (PrimeTime Emmy® ), Homegrown: The Counter-Terror Dilemma, Sergio (Sundance editing award), and Koran by Heart. Barker previously worked as a journalist, making numerous films for PBS/Frontline, including the acclaimed Ghosts of Rwanda.