By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there’s always more we can learn about them as people. We decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our ongoing series: Give Me the Backstory!
From a young age, deaf actor, writer, and director Shoshannah Stern knew she wanted to be a storyteller. “I wanted to be an actor since the day I saw Marlee Matlin win her Oscar [when I was] 7 years old. I was lucky enough to have that become a reality,” says Stern, who has appeared in various projects, from ER to Jericho and Weeds. “But once I was on set, I realized it profoundly matters who tells your story. So, I became a writer and co-wrote a television show called This Close that premiered at Sundance.”
As chance would have it, Matlin appeared in the series and told Stern she needed to direct. “I’d never thought about directing because I’d never seen a deaf director before,” says Stern. “If you don’t see something, you don’t necessarily believe it can happen.” When Matlin decided to tell her story, she enlisted Stern to direct. “She made sure her words became a reality,” adds the filmmaker.
In Stern’s hands, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, a documentary focused on the complex life of the deaf actor, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is an incredibly authentic and compelling watch.
“For a long time, the deaf experience has been told mainly by people living outside of our experience for people who also live outside of it,” says Stern. “I think there is value and beauty in telling our story the way we would tell it to ourselves.”
Below, Stern reveals how projects like Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore inspire change, why collaborating makes us better artists, and the Sundance-supported film she rewatches yearly.
What was the biggest inspiration behind Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore?
The biggest inspiration was Marlee herself. I wanted to tell her story as I have always seen it rather than the way it has been presented to the world.
Films are lasting artistic legacies. What do you want yours to say?
Your perspective has value, even if you haven’t seen it presented in the world yet.
Describe who you want this film to reach.
I want it to reach anyone and everyone, particularly those who have had to stand by and watch as other people give voice to their experiences.
What was your favorite part of making Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore? Memories from the process?
The entire process was a joy. But because my language is a visual one, I realized I could not tell the story of the film without bringing myself into the film, and most of the interviews turned into conversations because of that. I will always remember those who were brave enough to be vulnerable in the interviews they did for the film.
What was a big challenge you faced while making Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore?
By remaining true to American Sign Language as the primary language for the film, I realized I would have to upend some long-rooted film conventions. That was challenging and probably a bit insane to do, especially as a first-time director.
Why is filmmaking important to you? Why is it important to the world?
I believe stories shape perception, and perception goes on to shape everything, even the system around us. If our perspective changes, policies can and will change as a result. That’s why stories matter, and it matters profoundly who is telling those stories.
What is something that all filmmakers should keep in mind in order to become better cinematic storytellers?
Collaboration is not about finding people who see the same things you do. It’s about finding people who see what you cannot.
Who are your creative heroes?
Marlee Matlin and all the other firsts in the world.
What was the last thing you saw that you wish you made?
A Quiet Place.
One thing people don’t know about me is _____.
I really need to eat these brightly colored sour worms any time I am on a road trip solo.
Which of your personal characteristics contributes most to your success as a storyteller?
I think it’s my empathy. I have always been able to feel what other people feel, to the point where it has sometimes been hard to detangle other people’s emotions from my own. But it has allowed me to make sure that emotion is always present in the stories I tell.
Tell us about your history with Sundance Institute. When was the first time you engaged with us? Why did you want your film to premiere with us?
I first went to Sundance in 2008 as an actor in a feature film. The creative energy here was on another level. I knew I wanted to return someday, and I was lucky enough to come back in 2017 as the creator of a web series called The Chances. We ended up selling it to Sundance Now after they saw it here, and we returned to premiere it in the episodic category the following year.
We also got funding for this film at last year’s Festival. Someone who was present for our pitch came up to me later at the Festival and said to me, “See you at Sundance 2025.” Deep down, I felt that while it was a lofty goal, the film could do it. That was the light I followed throughout the making of the film. It feels like serendipity to premiere our film here.
Who was the first person you told when you learned you got into the Sundance Film Festival?
Our producer, Robyn Kopp, on text, and my family in person. Then I called and called Marlee on FaceTime until she picked up and toasted her with sparkling apple cider.
What’s your favorite film that has come from the Sundance Institute or Festival?
Love & Basketball. I still rewatch it at least once a year.
