Philly D.A.

Director: Yoni Brook, Ted Passon, Nicole Salazar

Institute History

  • 2021 Sundance Film Festival

Description

For 30 years, civil rights attorney Larry Krasner called out policies that caused Philadelphia to become one of the major cities in America with the most incarcerations. More than 75 times, he sued police officers who perpetuated corruption and brutality. This made him an unlikely candidate for district attorney, but in 2017 he launched an election campaign that promised to reform the system. Passionate in his beliefs, and buoyed by activists committed to ending mass incarceration, Krasner set out to revolutionize his city’s criminal justice system from the inside.

Directors Ted Passon and Yoni Brook rigorously bring to life the people impacted and incensed by the failings of the system, as well as those fighting to maintain the status quo. Tracking an election with shocking turns and a first term full of unprecedented moves, Passon and Brook smartly keep Krasner as their fulcrum. But after establishing a truly radical platform, Philly D.A. asks, can this controversial figure actually implement meaningful change?

The Sundance Film Festival is excited to showcase the first two episodes of this docuseries.


— D.C.

Screening Details

  • Section: Premieres
  • Film Type: Episodic
  • Country: U.S.A.
  • Run Time: 110 min.

Credits

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