Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibilityThe Brittney Griner Story | 2026 Sundance Film Festival
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The Brittney Griner Story

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United States2025105 minEnglish
Brittney Griner Story

Explores the circumstances that led to Brittney Griner playing basketball outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport, including her harrowing detainment, unwavering determination to secure her freedom, and her advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees.

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Explores the circumstances that led to Brittney Griner playing basketball outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport, including her harrowing detainment, unwavering determination to secure her freedom, and her advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees.

The media frenzy surrounding the detainment and eventual release of Brittney Griner was highly politicized, fueled by speculation and attempts to leverage her narrative to advance political agendas. Now, director Alexandria Stapleton gives the floor to Griner to tell her story, alongside her wife, Cherelle, and an inner circle of friends and family.

This intimate access grounds the film in Griner’s humanity, reminding us she is a wife, parent, daughter, sister, and friend — far more than just an athlete-turned-political pawn. Griner opens up about her childhood, the disappointment and fear surrounding her detainment, her harrowing experience in a Russian penal colony, and the complicated negotiations to get her home. It’s a riveting story of resilience, anchored by a family who never stopped pushing for her release and that of others. — SO

Available in person only.

PremieresAll FeaturesBIPOC StoriesBiographyLGBTQ+ StoriesWomen-Centered StoriesNonfictionClosed CaptionOpen CaptionU.S. Only- less

Screenings

in persononline not available
  • Jan 27, 2:30 PM MST
    Premiere

    The Ray Theatre

    Park City

    Closed CaptionClosed Caption

  • Jan 28, 11:00 AM MST
    Screening

    Library Center Theatre

    Park City

    Open CaptionOpen Caption

  • Jan 29, 12:30 PM MST
    Screening

    Megaplex Redstone - 1

    Park City

    Open CaptionOpen Caption

  • Jan 31, 2:00 PM MST
    Screening

    Rose Wagner Center

    Salt Lake City

    Open CaptionOpen Caption

  • Feb 1, 2:30 PM MST
    Screening

    Megaplex Redstone - 4

    Park City

    Open CaptionOpen Caption

    Credits

    • Director(s)

      Alexandria Stapleton

    • Producers

      Alexandria Stapleton

      Stacy Scripter

      Funmi Akinyode

      Megan Goedewaagen

      Carolyn Hepburn

    • Executive Producer

      Lindsay Kagawa Colas

      Jon Liebman

      Cherelle Griner

      Brian Lockhart

      Burke Magnus

      Marsha Cooke

      Heather Anderson

    • Editors

      Rosella Tursi

      Benjamin Kast

    • Director of Photography

      Eve Cohen

    • Subject

      Brittney Griner

      Cherelle Griner

    • Company

      ESPN

    • Contact

      Maria Delgado

      maria.delgado@espn.com

      6464686103

    Meet the Artist

    Panelist Name

    Alexandria Stapleton

      Alexandria Stapleton is an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and the founder of House of NonFiction. She directed The Brittney Griner Story for ESPN and Sean Combs: The Reckoning for Netflix, as well as films for Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and HBO. She is currently working on a feature doc about NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens.

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