King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones

Gangster to some, philanthropist to others, who really was Edward Jones? In the 1930s and 1940s, this descendant of slaves became one of the richest men in America thanks to the business of Policy, an illegal numbers game that eventually morphed into the modern state lottery, now played by millions across the country.

Edward Jones, nicknamed the "King of Kings," amassed a fortune of $25 million in the Policy business and redistributed some of that money in his community, setting an example and opening many doors. But in these times of segregation, his success and his unfailing support to the African-American community were a problem. In conflict with both the mob and the Feds, he was eventually forced into a life on the run.

Exploring the rise and fall of the most famous Policy King of all times, the filmmaker, Edward Jones' granddaughter, uncovers an unparalleled story, while showing the lasting repercussions of his untold story, both within her family, and for Chicago's South Side where he once embodied the American dream.

Love, success, violence, revenge, mafia, murder, betrayal, prison, kidnapping. . . Edward Jones' story holds all the best ingredients of gangster movies. Add segregation and you have a very explosive cocktail!

Award-winner director and producer, Harriet Marin Jones grew up in different countries in Europe. After studying at Loyola University in Chicago and American University in Washington, D.C. where she earned a BA in visual media and was voted Best student in the department, she pursued her Masters in Cinema Studies at New York University. During her studies, she wrote and directed a dozen short films that won numerous awards. She started her career as assistant director on feature films in the US and France, while evaluating scripts for two major French broadcasters. Through the years, she wrote and directed two high budgets short films, followed by her first feature film, “Épouse-Moi” distributed by Gaumont. In parallel, she has worked as a script doctor, directed a play by Ray Cooney, and co-produced and directed the pilot for a shortcom for France 2. In 2008, she started her own film and TV company, Abelart Productions. In 2017, she created and launched in Paris two online-course platforms that now totalize over 70 000 students. Harriet has two children, lives in Paris, has travelled to over 100 countries and has just finished her third novel. “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones”, her first documentary, has won 25 awards in 30 festivals.

Year of production: 2022

Running time: 98 minutes

Country: United States / France

Language: English. Original version with Spanish subtitles

Director: Harriet Marin Jones

Cast: Harriet Jones, Quincy Jones, Michel Fessler

Production: Harriet Marin Jones, Quincy Jones, Debbie Allen, Stéphane Sperry and Séverine Cappa

Screenwriter: Harriet Marin Jones

Production companies: Abélart Productions

Diamond Globe Award for Best Documentary at the 11th International New York Film Festival 

International New York Film Festival and Best Documentary Feature at 13th Gary International Black Film Festival, among others.

Premiere in Madrid.