Sundance Film Festival Adds Docus From Andrew Jarecki and Bao Nguyen to Lineup

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The 2025 documentary slate for the Sundance Film Festival now includes two documentaries directed by Andrew Jarecki and Bao Nguyen.

Jarecki’s documentary, named “The Alabama Solution,” focuses on imprisoned individuals who challenge the norm by unveiling a concealed scandal within one of America’s most lethal correctional facilities.

Karen Jarecki’s fourth project, titled “The Alabama Solution,” is set to premiere on HBO later this year. This isn’t her first time showcasing a project at Sundance; her debut film, “Capturing the Friedmans,” premiered there in 2003. This investigative documentary created controversy and raised questions about a family accused of child molestation. It was critically acclaimed and even earned an Oscar nomination. In 2004, her short film “Just a Clown” also debuted at Sundance. Then came the 2015 premiere of “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” another docuseries produced by HBO. This six-part series revealed evidence linking the late real estate tycoon to multiple murders, winning two Primetime Emmys. Last year, Jarecki released “The Jinx: Part Two” on Max. So, we can expect great things from “The Alabama Solution,” given her impressive track record.

According to Jarecki, the exceptional care taken by Sundance in presenting groundbreaking documentaries results in a deeply impactful viewing experience each time. In this instance, after six years of intensive investigation, we will unveil a compelling story about a system that has been shrouded from public scrutiny. The extraordinary opportunity to discuss such a film with so many focused minds simultaneously is what makes Sundance the perfect platform for initiating crucial conversations around this story prior to its airing on HBO later in the year.

In January, Eugene Jarecki, brother to Jarecki, decided to take his new documentary, “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” out of the Sundance Film Festival 2025 lineup. Initially scheduled for its world premiere in Utah, this film focusing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was pulled by Eugene due to some significant and unforeseen events that occurred within the story itself.

A spokesperson for Sundance clarified that neither “The Alabama Solution” nor “The Stringer” took the place of “The Six Million Dollar Man.

Nguyen’s movie, titled “The Stringer,” delves into a two-year probe that exposed the hidden truth about the creation of a renowned 20th-century photograph. The film traces five decades of concealed facts in its pursuit of justice for an anonymous figure called “the stringer.” This captivating title, “The Stringer,” was chosen to reflect the intrigue and mystery surrounding this enigmatic character.

Both “The Alabama Solution” and “The Stringer” are set to debut for the first time in the Premiere section of Sundance Film Festival.

Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival’s Director of Programming, states that by incorporating these two nonfiction stories into our already extensive collection of documentaries for the festival, both narrated by filmmakers who have long been a part of our Sundance family, we have rounded off our programming with captivating investigations focusing on justice and truth.

With the inclusion of two more films for the 2025 lineup, a total of 88 full-length movies from 33 different nations will be screened at the festival that begins on January 23rd.

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2025-01-07 19:47