Marlee Matlin’s Inspiring Journey: New Documentary Premieres at Sundance
A new documentary, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone anymore, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, offering an intimate look at the life and career of the groundbreaking Deaf actor. Directed by Shoshannah Stern, the film explores Matlin’s journey, from her historic oscar win to her advocacy for deaf representation in Hollywood.
Stern, herself a Deaf actor inspired by Matlin, began the film with a conversation highlighting their shared experiences. The premiere at the Eccles Theater saw Stern thanking matlin for trusting her with her story, met with eager Deaf applause.
Matlin made history in 1987 at age 21, becoming the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award for Children of a Lesser God. The documentary, through Matlin’s narration in American Sign Language and interviews with friends and collaborators, reveals the challenges she faced, including insensitive questions and accusations that her win was based on sympathy.
Despite the negativity, Matlin used her platform to advocate for change, pushing for closed captions and participating in protests, including the “Deaf President Now!” movement.The film also addresses tensions within the Deaf community, especially after Matlin’s Oscar presenter speech where she spoke but did not sign. Stern’s childhood friend, John Maucere, noted, “She changed the world.”
The documentary also delves into difficult periods, including an abusive relationship with William Hurt and struggles with addiction, while also celebrating her friendships, such as with Henry Winkler, and her roles in shows like Seinfeld and The West wing. The success of CODA and Troy Kotsur’s Oscar win brought her back into the spotlight and reinforced her sense of community.
following the premiere, both Stern and Matlin received a standing ovation. Stern said she made the film for Matlin, her younger self, and all Deaf children, hoping they would find their own words and know they are not defined by the world’s perceptions. Matlin added that she felt it was time to tell her story and trusted Stern to do so authentically.
During a Q&A, Matlin expressed gratitude and revealed that her production company has several projects in development, including potential collaborations with Stern. Stern emphasized her desire to continue creating opportunities for Deaf creators, building on Matlin’s pioneering role.
Matlin and Stern are discussing future collaborations, with a focus on creating more opportunities for Deaf creators in the entertainment industry. Matlin’s production company is actively developing several new projects.
