Kern Oil 2026

The Truth Runs Deep

Directed by Rickey Bird Jr.

Kern Oil explores the history, people, and lasting impact of California's oil industry through the story of Kern County, one of the nation's most important oil-producing regions. Featuring firsthand accounts from oilfield workers, industry leaders, historians, and community voices, the documentary examines how generations built their lives around the industry while confronting the economic, environmental, and political challenges facing California oil today. From the fields that helped build the state to the growing reliance on imported oil, Kern Oil asks what the future holds for California's energy industry and the communities that depend on it.