Debut writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples' 'Miss Juneteenth' was one of the surprise hits of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where critics singled it out for the charming ways in which Peoples unfurled its touching story. The movie tells the tale of Turquoise Jones (Nicole Behari), a single mom and former beauty queen who’s preparing her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), for the Miss Juneteenth pageant, which she herself won years ago. Ahead of the movie’s release on June 19, Peoples spoke with Rotten Tomatoes about what Juneteenth means to her, the challenges of making her debut feature, and why she felt the need to tell Turquoise and Kai’s stories.

Watch More:
► New on RT: http://bit.ly/2D4vReA
► Exclusive Interviews: http://bit.ly/2APqfQl
► Rotten Tomatoes Originals: http://bit.ly/2EzyjGO
► Celebrity Games: http://bit.ly/2FNDBTs

Music:
Courtesy of Extreme Music

Join the Conversation:
► Subscribe to ROTTEN TOMATOES: http://bit.ly/2EwugLH
► Subscribe to the ROTTEN TOMATOES NEWSLETTER: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/newsle...
► Follow us on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2mpschF
► Like us on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2COySMI
► Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2FlxGC6

From original shows and celebrity interviews to Tomatometer scores, ROTTEN TOMATOES is your insider’s guide to must-see movies and TV.