“Mayor Pete” makes its world premiere in Chicago

CHICAGO – A new documentary film about South Bend's former Mayor made its world premiere in at the Chicago International Film Festival on Thursday night.

The documentary is titled simply "Mayor Pete" and chronicles Pete Buttigieg's rise from midwestern mayor, to presidential primary winner and now the first openly gay Cabinet Secretary in US history.

“We spent a lot of time in South Bend, of course, the headquarters of the campaign and Pete's home base, so I loved my time in South Bend and seeing this campaign blossom from a staff of five people to a staff of 500. It was like being on a rocket ship as the campaign took off," Jesse Moss, director of “Mayor Pete,” said.

Moss said this is a story that captures both South Bend and Buttigieg in a unique way.

“People who don't know Pete will learn something new, and people who do will be surprised too," Moss said.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience, but also to be able to tell the story of South Bend, and to be from here and to have such an integral role in the campaign was super exciting.” Arielle Brandy, Indiana State Director of Pete for America, said.

Brandy, a South Bend native, was just one local working behind the scenes to bring the ‘Pete for America’ campaign to life.

“The story of South Bend was through and through the entire campaign. The stories we told, the ads we ran,” Brandy said.

The film shows viewers what it’s really like to run for the highest office in the land and how it can change the lives of the people who are a part of it. 

"It's a big thing for the town because before Pete came around people would say 'oh you're from South Bend? That's near Notre Dame?" … "So, it's a tremendous amount of pride for me, that I was a part of something that had so much reach even till this day," Josh Mandell, a Pete supporter who canvassed for the former mayor all over the country, said.

The director for the film candidly admitted he initially had no interest in working on a film about Buttigieg. That is until he heard him speak at a town hall and realized there was something special about the then-Mayor and presidential candidate. 

“Why not a young mayor from South Bend? So, we signed up, we got access with Pete. He was true to his commitment up to allow us to be there in those moments at work the celebratory, but also the hard ones, and I think you see all of that in the campaign," Moss said.

“My experience in this city, growing up here, living here, raising my kids here, is something that I want other people to be able to experience it too. So now, do they not only get to see it in the big screen but they get to see a little bit more of the story and the reason why he decided to run,” Brandy said.

If you want to see the film for yourself, you'll have to wait a little while longer. You can stream “Mayor Pete” on Nov. 12 on Amazon Prime.