Sundance 2025 - Third Act and Heightened Scrutiny

Welcome to our third and final episode for Sundance 2025, featuring two very timely feature length documentaries.

Third Act is a documentary that follows the life of Asian American artist and activist Robert A. Nakamura (aka the godfather of Asian American media), while grappling with his recent Parkinson's diagnosis. We were joined by filmmaker (and Robert's son) Tadashi Nakamura and one of the subjects of the film/his mother, Karen Ishizuka, to discuss making this film as a family, the universal nature of grief and loss, and Tad's son Prince's potential run for president in 2040 (jk but also not).

Heightened Scrutiny follows civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio's courtroom battle against anti-trans laws, while exposing the media's role in impacting public perception of transgender rights. Director Sam Feder shares his rush to get this film out as soon as possible, the importance of being able to give a voice to children in a conversation about them, and how this film is his way of showing the younger generations that we tried/are trying.

Follow Third Act on IG

Follow filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura on IG

Follow director Sam Feder on IG