This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Esoser (talk | contribs) at 19:22, 3 January 2025 (←Created page with '{{Infobox film | name = Public Defender | image = Public Defender (Poster).png | alt = The release poster for the documentary Public Defender. | caption = | director = Andrea Kalin | producer = Andrea Kalin, p.g.a. <br/>Ethan Oser | writer = Andrea Kalin | starring = Heather Shaner<br/>Annie Howell<br/>Jack Jesse Griffith | music = Mike Sayre | cinematography = Ethan Oser | editing = Thomas Niles | studio...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 19:22, 3 January 2025 by Esoser (talk | contribs) (←Created page with '{{Infobox film | name = Public Defender | image = Public Defender (Poster).png | alt = The release poster for the documentary Public Defender. | caption = | director = Andrea Kalin | producer = Andrea Kalin, p.g.a. <br/>Ethan Oser | writer = Andrea Kalin | starring = Heather Shaner<br/>Annie Howell<br/>Jack Jesse Griffith | music = Mike Sayre | cinematography = Ethan Oser | editing = Thomas Niles | studio...')(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 2024 American film| Public Defender | |
|---|---|
| The release poster for the documentary Public Defender. | |
| Directed by | Andrea Kalin |
| Written by | Andrea Kalin |
| Produced by | Andrea Kalin, p.g.a. Ethan Oser |
| Starring | Heather Shaner Annie Howell Jack Jesse Griffith |
| Cinematography | Ethan Oser |
| Edited by | Thomas Niles |
| Music by | Mike Sayre |
| Production company | Spark Media |
| Distributed by | The New Yorker |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 51 minutes 40 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
.png){kind=link}
Public Defender is a 2024 documentary film about Washington, DC criminal defense attorney, Heather Shaner. The documentary follows Shaner's work defending two individuals who participated in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Public Defender is a Spark Media film and was directed and produced by Andrea Kalin.
Synopsis
Heather Shaner is a liberal criminal defense lawyer who has been practicing in Washington, DC for more than 45 years. After a lifelong dedicated to vulnerable clients, Shaner faces an unexpected turn when she is asked to represent people who took part in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Shaner is assigned to represent Jack "Liberty Dragon" Griffith, a social media influencer, and Annie Howell, a single mother and painter. As Shaner gets to know her clients, she discovers how her clients were deceived by misinformation and thought they'd joined a righteous defense of democracy on January 6th.
Public Defender explores the impact of disinformation on every-day Americans, and the broader challenge of addressing the divisions that exist in American society.
Release
Public Defender premiered in Telluride, Colorado, at Mountainfilm on May 26, 2024, where it won the Moving Mountains Award for social justice and impact. Following its festival premiere, Public Defender had a limited theatrical run at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, California and was released by The New Yorker via YouTube.
In addition to its publication by The New Yorker, Public Defender was also broadcast in Israel by yes, in Japan by NHK World-Japan, and by Scripps News in the United States on November 3, 2024 as part of their Emmy-winning documentary series, "In Real Life."
Additional public broadcasts of the documentary are scheduled for 2025 on WETA-TV.
Reception
Following the world premiere at Mountainfilm, Public Defender screened at festivals across the United States, including Indy Shorts presented by Heartland Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. The documentary was also recognized with the Best Life & Liberty Film award at Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Writing for The Ankler, Katey Rich calls Public Defender, "One of the most moving shorts" that she watched in 2024. Giving the documentary 4.5 stars out of 5 for Video Librarian, J. Zimmerman writes that Public Defender is, "an excellent non-fiction examination of the moral and political challenges that face defense lawyers in America."
References
- ^ Davidson Sorkin, Amy (2024-10-09). "A Public Defender's Radical Approach to Representing the January 6th Rioters". newyorker.com. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Miossi, Molly (2024-10-02). "Season seven of Scripps News' award-winning documentary series to include Soledad O'Brien". scripps.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Viebrock, Susan (2024-05-15). "Mountainfilm 2024: Andrea Kalin's "Public Defennder," Must-See World Premiere!". tellurideinside.com. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ Olson, Rollie. "How One Public Defender Found Humanity in Jan 6. Rioters". thefulcrum.us. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- "2024 Festival Awards Announcement". mountainfilm.org. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- "The New Yorker Documentary Presents: Frank, Denial, Public Defender".
- "A Public Defender's Radical Approach to Representing The January 6th Rioters". 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- https://www.yes.co.il/content/tv/movies/public-defender/
- Hitoshi Omae (2024-11-25). "トランプ氏支持者を理解できるか 敏腕映画監督が新作で出す答え". mainichi.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-12-25.
- https://weta.org/watch/shows/public-defender-0
- https://www.publicdefenderfilm.com/screenings
- Sippell, Margeaux (2024-08-27). "Sidewalk Film Festival 2024 Winners Include Exhibiting Forgiveness and Secret Mall Apartment". moviemaker.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- Rich, Katey (2024-11-25). "Ariana Grande & Denzel Washington's Kenergy". theankler.com. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- Zimmerman, J. (2024-07-01). "Public Defender". videolibrarian.com. Retrieved 2025-01-03.