Amy Goodman’s Acclaimed Documentary ‘Steal This Story, Please!’ to Be Released Independently Nationwide
Oscar-Nominated Filmmakers to Self-Release Documentary on Amy Goodman
Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin will self-release their highly regarded documentary Steal This Story, Please!, which focuses on the career of progressive journalist and Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman. The film is set to premiere on April 10 at the IFC Center in New York City.
In the weeks following its launch, Goodman and the filmmakers plan to embark on a national tour, appearing at screenings in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The film will also expand to numerous theaters across the United States in April and May.
Deal and Lessin have partnered with seasoned distribution experts, including Michael Tuckman of mTuckmanMedia, who previously facilitated the successful self-release of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land. Steal This Story, Please! has garnered multiple awards, including audience prizes at several prestigious film festivals such as Palm Springs International Film Festival and Seattle International Film Festival DocFest, and has received special recognition at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and Santa Fe International Film Festival.
“Amy Goodman’s daily global news hour, Democracy Now!, carries an audience of millions, reaching approximately 1,500 radio and television stations—more than both NPR and PBS combined,” the filmmakers noted. Their self-distribution strategy aims to collaborate with these stations, as well as grassroots pro-democracy groups, to bolster support for independent media in light of challenges posed by recent political developments.
Deal expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Amy Goodman, with her distinct voice and deep humanity, and her wicked sense of humor, has been challenging authority – and authoritarians – for three decades. We are thrilled to bring her story to audiences coast to coast.” Lessin echoed this sentiment, highlighting the film’s relevance in today’s climate. “The response from festival audiences has made one thing clear: people are hungry for films that speak to this moment—films that challenge the status quo.”
The documentary is produced by Karen Ranucci, Diana Cohn, and Caren Spruch, with executive production from notable figures including Rosario Dawson and Tom Morello.
Steal This Story, Please! premiered last June at the DC/DOX festival, where Goodman participated in a Q&A, emphasizing the need for media to focus on grassroots activism rather than solely on political narratives. “What pushes them [politicians]? What changes their minds? It is that engine of grassroots activism that is the true story of history,” Goodman stated.
Deal reflected on how Democracy Now! exemplifies a different journalism approach, contrasting it with mainstream news coverage of recent events. “It was like a big ‘a-ha’ thing of you need to go to this school of Amy Goodman,” he remarked.
Lessin acknowledged Goodman’s openness during the documentary’s production. “She opened up her 25-year archive to us, and what we learned was that this is a person who has been making sense of this world for all of us for so long,” she said.
The upcoming release of Steal This Story, Please! promises to be a significant contribution to contemporary discussions on media, activism, and the role of journalism in society.
