Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Ap/REX/Shutterstock
Matt Tyrnauer reveals the dark influence of the Machiavellian attorney on today’s polarized political landscape.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
Sundance Program Description:
Roy Cohn personified the dark arts of 20th-century American politics, turning empty vessels into dangerous demagogues – from Senator Joseph McCarthy to his final project, Donald J Trump. WHERE’S MY ROY COHN? unearths the origins of the seditious right wing’s ascent, revealing how a deeply troubled master manipulator shaped our current political world. This shocking film exposes Cohn’s malign influence and contextualizes him as a modern Machiavelli, tracing his rise to national prominence – first as prosecutor of the Rosenbergs, then as handmaiden to Joseph McCarthy. After these twin disgraces, Cohn re-emerges as a New York power broker, mafia consigliere, white-collar criminal, and, eventually, the mentor of Trump.
Matt Tyrnauer, award-winning journalist, acclaimed documentarian, and Sundance alumnus (STUDIO 54, 2018 Sundance Film Festival) returns to the Festival with perhaps his most explosive and scathingly delicious film to date. WHERE’S MY ROY COHN? shines a blistering spotlight on the horrifying story of the ultimate string-puller whose diabolical influence helped set the United States on its current uncharted course.
Some Background:
Director/Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
Tyrnauer’s latest project participated in Sundance’s Catalyst Forum. He has a background in journalism, beginning under Graydon Carter at The New York Observer before moving over to Vanity Fair in 1992, where he now is a contributing editor. Tyraner’s directorial debut, VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR, premiered at Toronto and was shortlisted for the Academy Award.
Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
Reeser is Tyrnauer’s partner at Altimeter Films, which they founded together. Prior to Altimeter, he produced creative content at Herzog and Company.
Brenner is an investigative journalist and writer-at-large for Vanity Fair, for which she penned the August 2017 article, “How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America.” She recently served as executive producer for Matt Heineman’s 2018 fiction debut, A PRIVATE WAR, which was based on her article, “Marie Colvin’s Private War.”
Deep has a long history in politics and public policy, lending her expertise to film projects as a political advisor. She previously served as a public policy, political, and communications advisor to Robert Redford.
Producer/Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
CITY OF GOLD (2015)
THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012)
Lewis has also produced/edited other work by Tyrnauer, including CITIZEN JANE: BATTLE FOR THE CITY.
Co-Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
High associate produced Tyrnauer’s recent feature doc, SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD. and worked on the crew of CITIZEN JANE. He previously worked at Herzog and Company.
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
Schnapp was also an associate producer for SCOTTY and worked at Herzog and Company.
This marks Baskir’s first Sundance credit following work for shorts, television, and galleries.
Tobias is a writer with a long history covering politics and finance, as well as a former treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, and a gay rights activist. He most recently associate produced THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P JOHNSON.
Fertel is an author and philanthropist whose Fertel Foundation supports the arts, education, and food culture. This is his first Sundance credit.
Past Sundance docs:
THE DEVIL WE KNOW (2018)
TROPHY (2017)
The investor, philanthropist, and founder of Vess Capital and Freedom Fighter is also an executive producer of fellow 2019 Sundance title MS PURPLE, screening in the US Dramatic Competition.
Executive Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
INVENTING TOMORROW (2018)
THIS IS HOME (2018)
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018)
SEMBENE! (2015)
Wavelength Productions’ Westphal previously executive produced SCOTTY and supports films that inspire hope and lasting change.
This marks the first Sundance project for Plummer, supervising producer for Wavelength Productions. He has a background producing and directing for television and brands.
Past Sundance docs:
CESAR’S LAST FAST (2014)
Lear also executive produced fellow 2019 Sundance title THE GREAT HACK in the Documentary Premieres category. She is a philanthropist and social and environmental activist who also serves on the Sundance Institute Board of Trustees. Lear’s husband is legendary television producer Norman Lear.
Past Sundance docs:
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
THE DEVIL WE KNOW
Boccardo, an architect, is a Palm Springs-based arts patron and art collector who also was an associate producer of 2018 Sundance fiction award-winner NIGHT COMES ON.
Pomerantz is the chairman of StoneWater Capital Management. His wife is Marie Brenner.
Pincus, of public affairs firm Grossman Heinz, previously executive produced SCOTTY.
Palm Springs-based Sernel has a background in law and in supporting LGBT organizations. He also was an executive producer on SCOTTY.
Co-Executive Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
THE DEVIL WE KNOW
INVENTING TOMORROW
CHASING CORAL (2017)
ALIVE INSIDE (2014)
van Beuren is the founder and artistic director of newportFILM.
Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
SCIENCE FAIR (2018)
NOBODY SPEAK: TRIALS OF THE FREE PRESS (2017)
Why You Should Watch:
Tyrnauer astutely connects the dots between past abuses of political power and media influence and the present through this expertly constructed, archive-rich exposé of immoral political bogeyman Roy Cohn and the pernicious legacy he has left the world to contend with in the form of Donald Trump.
More Info:
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
what (not) to doc 