Documentary Filmmaker

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    The Wrong Kind of American: On ESPN’s “The Brittney Griner Story”

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    When WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Russian airport in February 2022, after she was accused of traveling with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, her wife, Cherelle Griner, became her unwavering lifeline. For 294 days, while Brittney was kept in a Russian prison, Cherelle and Brittney’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, fought tirelessly — galvanizing public attention, refusing to let Brittney’s story fade and ultimately turning a wrongfully detained athlete into a national priority. ESPN’s documentary “The Brittney Griner Story,” directed by Alex Stapleton, which premiered at Sundance this year, follows both the public campaign for Brittney’s release and what she endured to survive it.

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    DOK Leipzig standout: Vincent Graf in conversation about “Nonna”

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    Attending DOK Leipzig for the first time this year felt like stepping into a vibrant constellation of urgent stories, bold artistic voices, and unexpected emotional turns. During the three last days of the festival, I encountered very diverse films that were each a revelation. My festival journey began with Vincent Graf’s “Nonna,” shown in a packed arthouse cinema in the heart of Leipzig, and I truly couldn’t have imagined a warmer introduction to DOK Leipzig. The film is an affectionate, spirited portrait of the filmmaker’s larger-than-life grandmother, whose vibrant, sharp-witted presence illuminates every frame.