Birth of a Nation: Evocative poster released for the awards front-runner

Director Nate Parker takes centre stage in an affecting one-sheet for the historical biopic

Now equipped with a release date and trailer, Nate Parker has debuted a new poster for his historical drama The Birth of a Nation - and it's as affecting as you'd expect.

Written and directed by the 36-year-old newcomer, the film focuses on character Nat Turner, born into slavery, who grows up to become a preacher and organise an uprising against white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan.

Debuting on Tidal, the powerful poster shows Parker being hung by a noose made out of an American flag.

The film will be a stark contrast to D.W. Griffith's 1915 film of the same name which many attribute with sparking a second wave of the white supremacy movement.

Parker has spent seven years trying to get the film made even reportedly investing $100,000 into the $10 million budget - something which paid off following the standing ovations received at the film's Sundance Film Festival premiere earlier this year.

The Birth of a Nation will arrive in UK cinemas on 20 January; the film also stars Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Aja Naomi King and Gabrielle Union.