Documentary Films

Sabbath Queen

Credit: Associate Editor

Director: Sandi DuBowski

Filmed over 21 years, Sabbath Queen follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie's journey as the heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis who is torn between accepting his ancestral destiny or becoming a drag queen rebel. In addition to his drag persona, Lau-Lavie is a queer bio-dad and the founder of Lab/Shul: an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. With incredible access, award-winning director Sandi DuBowski (Trembling Before G_D, Sundance 2001) joins Rabbi Amichai on a life journey and cinematic quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual while challenging gender norms in a rapidly changing 21st century.

Storming Caesars Palace

Credit: Assistant Editor

Director: Hazel Gurland-Pooler for Independent Lens/PBS

After losing her job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas, Ruby Duncan joined a welfare rights group of mothers who defied notions of the “welfare queen.” In a fight for guaranteed income, Ruby and other equality activists took on the Nevada mob in organizing a massive protest that shut down Caesars Palace.

Chicago vs. Jussie Smollett

Credit: Assistant Editor

Executive Producer: Eric Johnson for CNN+

Go behind the stranger-than-fiction saga of Jussie Smollett's hate crime hoax and Chicago’s struggles with law and order.

Taking on Taylor Swift

Credit: Assistant Editor

Executive Producer: Eric Johnson for CNN

The investigation into the copyright lawsuit brought by songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler against Taylor Swift for her hit song “Shake it Off.”

Endangered

Credit: Assistant Editor

Director: Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing for HBO Max

An official selection of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, Endangered chronicles a year in the life of four journalists living and working in democratic countries where freedom of the press has historically been considered a “given.”

Each and Every Day

Credit: Production Associate

Director: Alexandra Shiva. Executive Producer: Sheila Nevins.

Nine young people, who have attempted suicide or struggled with suicidal thoughts, share their personal stories while emphasizing recovery, hope and healing.