“A tribute to a trailblazer long overdue her flowers.”
– Monica Castillo, RogerEbert.com
"This documentary is a revolution of format."
– Jada Yuan, The Washington Post
“An engaging, exuberant portrait…touches on Deaf identity and expression
in a way that very few films have done.”
– Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter
"Matlin and her director make clear the fluid ways that Deaf people move through the world.
The documentary possesses a flexible form that rightly insists the rest of us lean in."
– Lisa Kennedy, Variety
Kino Lorber has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, a documentary portrait of the trailblazing Deaf Academy Award-winning actor and activist Marlee Matlin that offers an unflinching look at Matlin’s remarkable life through the lens of her primary language, American Sign Language.
The directorial debut of Deaf actor and writer Shoshannah Stern, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore made its World Premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Documentary Competition and is also an official selection of SXSW and the San Francisco Film Festival. The film will make its New York Premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June with Matlin and Stern in attendance and will be released theatrically by Kino Lorber on June 20, followed by a digital, educational, and home video release. As part of its commitment to equitable access and inclusive storytelling, Kanopy will serve as the exclusive library and educational streaming platform for the film, bringing this important work to academic institutions and public libraries across the U.S.
In 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award® for her groundbreaking performance in Children of a Lesser God. Catapulted into the spotlight, she seized the moment to challenge an industry unprepared for her immense talent, emerging as a trailblazer not only as a performer but also as an author and activist. Matlin's incredible journey continued with standout roles in acclaimed projects such as The West Wing and the Oscar®-winning CODA, all while relentlessly advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility both within Hollywood and beyond its borders. Matlin opens up about her personal and professional struggles – her meteoric rise to fame, the challenges of navigating a predominantly hearing industry, the pain of a tumultuous high-profile relationship, getting sober and years of being overlooked by Hollywood – alongside her many triumphs.
Director Shoshannah Stern reimagines traditional documentary storytelling, elevating ASL as the film’s heart and soul while removing conventional voiceovers and including open captions, creating an authentic and visually immersive experience. Through split-screen interviews with both Deaf and hearing contributors, the film weaves a poignant and inspiring narrative of Matlin’s legendary career, highlighting her tireless fight for inclusion and representation in an entertainment world that at first had no place for her. Stern partnered with San Francisco-based documentary production company Actual Films and editor Sara Newens to bring her vision to the screen.
The deal for Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Cleo Veger of Dogwoof.
“I've long admired Marlee Matlin's work on-screen, from her earliest breakthrough in Children of a Lesser God to her trailblazing TV roles to her more recent performance in CODA. But in watching Shoshannah Stern's intimate, deeply moving documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, I've become an even greater admirer of her work off-screen,” said Lisa Schwartz, Chief Distribution & Revenue Officer for Kino Lorber. “Marlee is a true force of nature, a fearless performer and tireless advocate whose lifetime of artistry and activism has broken countless barriers in Hollywood. We couldn't be more thrilled to collaborate with Shoshannah, Marlee, and the whole team to bring this film to audiences across the US.”
“As a child, movies were how I came to understand people who were different than me and spoke with their mouths, rather than with their hands,” said director Shoshannah Stern. “I’m awestruck to partner with Kino Lorber, who are long-time and passionate champions of the importance of storytelling through filmmaking. Because of them, people will now be able to watch Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore surrounded by others in theaters, rather than by themselves at home. This feels especially profound because one of the messages in our film is that none of us are meant to be alone.”
“We’re proud to bring Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore to Kanopy, where powerful stories reach engaged audiences who value thoughtful, enriching content,” said Jason Tyrrell, Executive Vice President, Content for OverDrive, the parent company of Kanopy. “Through public and academic libraries, this film will be accessible to millions who turn to Kanopy for films that inform, inspire, and spark conversation.”
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a co-production of American Masters Pictures/PBS, and Actual Films. The title received Open Call funding from ITVS and is presented by Impact Partners. The film is produced by Robyn Kopp, Shoshannah Stern, Justine Nagan, and Bonni Cohen and executive produced by Michael Kantor, Carrie Lozano, Jenny Raskin, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Patty Quillin, Adam Lewis, Melony Lewis, Bill Harnisch, and Ruth Ann Harnisch.