Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Barbara Alper/Getty Images
Ursula Macfarlane presents a privileged look at Harvey Weinstein’s alleged history of abuse.
Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
Sundance Program Description:
The inside story of the meteoric rise and monstrous fall of movie titan Harvey Weinstein, UNTOUCHABLE reveals how Weinstein acquired and deployed his formidable power over the course of decades. Former staffers, college friends, and reporters reflect upon the public perception of Weinstein as a visionary, while detailing his ruthless attempts to preserve his power as scandal threatened to engulf him. In candid, emotional, often-harrowing testimony – with many accusers speaking on camera for the first time – UNTOUCHABLE exhumes both the method and the collateral damage of Weinstein’s alleged abuse. As the criminal case against him continues, the film questions whether meaningful change in the justice system – and in the film industry – is really possible.
Director Ursula Macfarlane crafts a sinister cinematic landscape exposing the underbelly of the storied, Hollywood fairy tale. Joining forces with acclaimed producers Emmy Award winner Jonathan Chinn and two-time Academy Award winner Simon Chinn, Macfarlane creates a brilliant, haunting parable for our times and a beacon call for future generations.
Some Background:
Director:
This project marks the first at Sundance for the BAFTA and Grierson-nominated British filmmaker.
Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
THE GREEN PRINCE (2014)
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (2012)
THE IMPOSTER (2012)
PROJECT NIM (2011)
MAN ON WIRE (2008)
Lightbox co-founder Chinn is a two-time Oscar winner, and also has picked up an Emmy and multiple BAFTA awards. His previous Sundance projects have collectively won grand jury prizes, audience awards, directing awards, and special jury awards at the festival.
Simon Chinn’s cousin, Jonathan Chinn, is co-founder of Lightbox and a multi-Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated producer with an extensive background in television reality series and documentaries. This is his first project at Sundance.
Past Sundance docs:
THE IMPOSTER
Dixon also produced the documentary segments of 2018 Sundance narrative hybrid AMERICAN ANIMALS and was the development producer of THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS (2018).
Co-Producer:
Tovell is Lightbox’s COO. She line produced THE IMPOSTER and most recently co-produced WHITNEY.
Executive Producers:
The Media Finance Capital chairman and managing director provide financing for film and television projects. This marks their first Sundance project.
This is also the first Sundance credit for both BBC commissioning editors.
Past Sundance docs:
PROJECT NIM
Embankment Films co-founder Grumbar most recently executive produced MCQUEEN.
While this marks the first documentary at Sundance for the Embankment Films co-founder, Haslam previously executive produced fiction feature alumni WUTHERING HEIGHTS and NOWHERE BOY.
Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
THE IMPOSTER
Why You Should Watch:
Macfarlane gains the trust of numerous individuals closely connected to Weinstein and the charges against him, from former employees and reporters who broke the story to alleged victims themselves. The result is a sobering and eye-opening behind-the-scenes look at not only the case against Weinstein, but the culture of entitlement and intimidation that protected him from exposure and granted him impunity for far too long.
More Info:
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
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