Director Shoshannah Stern chatted at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
Stern was a part of the New York premiere of her documentary film “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” and she participated in red carpet interviews with the media.
In 1987, Marlee Matlin made cinematic history, where she became the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar, and was catapulted into the spotlight at the young age of 21.
In this poignant documentary, Matlin looks back on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language (ASL), and explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer/pioneer in the contemporary entertainment landscape.
Stern on the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival
On being a part of the Tribeca Film Festival, Stern exclaimed, “I can’t believe it. Somebody has to pinch me! Is it real? It’s happening.”
Lessons learned from the documentary’s cinematic journey
On the lessons learned from this documentary’s cinematic journey, Stern reflected, “I think it taught me that even if you haven’t respected representation before, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have value.”
“I think it’s important to stay true to what you feel is possible,” she underscored.
Advice for hopefuls that wish to make their own documentaries
“Even if you haven’t seen someone like you make a documentary before, even if you haven’t seen the way the documentary has been made, it’s possible to make it.”
Closing thoughts on the new documentary
When asked what she wants viewers to get out of this documentary, Stern said, “I think it’s not just one thing. I think people can take away everything from it!”
“I want the audience to be immersed in the experience of the film. I want this to be an immersive experience for them,” she exclaimed.
“I want audience members to understand what it would feel like to live in a world, where they can receive information visually rather than through sounds. Really, it’s a sensory experience,” Stern concluded.
To learn more about distinguished filmmaker Shoshannah Stern, visit her Instagram page.
Read More: “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” movie review.
Many thanks to Shoshannah Stern’s ALS interpreter, Karri Aiken, for her exceptional interpretation services and assistance during this in-person interview on the red carpet of the SVA Theatre as part of the Tribeca Film Festival.
