Ricki Stern

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| name = Ricki Stern

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| occupation = Director, producer, writer, author

| years_active = 1991–present

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Ricki Stern is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, most known for her documentarian work, and author. She works alongside Anne Sundberg. She is most known for The Trials of Darryl Hunt (2006), The Devil Came on Horseback (2007), The End of America (2007), Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010), Surviving Jeffrey Epstein (2020), and Surviving Death (2021).

Career

Stern made her directorial debut with Neglect Not the Children, narrated by Morgan Freeman for PBS.{{cite web|url=http://www.breakthrufilms.org/who-we-are|title=Who We Are|website=Breakthru Films|access-date=August 12, 2020}} In 1999, Stern directed In My Corner, a documentary following a boxing gym in the Bronx.{{cite web |title=In My Corner |url=https://itvs.org/films/in-my-corner|website=ITVS|date=24 June 1999 |access-date=August 12, 2020}}

In 2006, Stern co-directed and served as a producer on The Trials of Darryl Hunt, which follows the case of wrongly convicted Darryl Hunt, the film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2006, and was released in June 2007.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/jo.www.bucket/breakthrufilms.com/news_projects/press_kits/000/000/005/original/TODH_PRESS_NOTES.pdf?1341516524|title=The Trials of Darryl Hunt|website=HBO Documentary Films|access-date=August 12, 2020}} Stern next directed The Devil Came on Horseback, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2007, and premiered on National Geographic in April 2008.{{cite web|url=https://stillinmotion.typepad.com/still_in_motion/2008/04/the-devil-came.html|title=The Devil That Came Horse Back to Air on NatGeo|website=StillinMotion|date=April 17, 2008|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://behindthelensonline.net/site/reviews/the-devil-came-on-horseback/|title=THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK|website=Behind the Lens|first=Debbie Lynn|last=Elias|date=15 August 2010 |access-date=August 12, 2020}} That same year, Stern co-directed The End of America, based upon the book of the same name by Naomi Wolf.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2008/10/in-the-end-of-america-naomi-wolf-unveils-10-point-wake-up-call-71524/|title=In "The End of America," Naomi Wolf Unveils 10 Point Wake Up Call|website=IndieWire|first=Eugene|last=Hernandez|date=October 22, 2008|access-date=August 12, 2020}}

In 2009, Stern co-wrote with Heidi Pesky Worcester, the children's novel Beryl E. Bean: Mighty Adventurer of the Planet.{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-442120-1|title=BERYL E. BEAN #1: Mighty Adventurer of the Planet|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=August 12, 2020}} Stern next co-directed Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work which followed comedian Joan Rivers, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2010_sundance_film_festival_announces_films_in_competition|title=2010 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films In Competition|website=Sundance Film Festival|date=December 2, 2009|access-date=August 12, 2020}} It was released in June 2010 by IFC Films to critical acclaim.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2010/indie-trailer-sunday-joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work-doc-trailer/|title=Indie Trailer Sunday: 'Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work' Doc Trailer|website=First Showing|first=Alex|last=Billington|date=May 23, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ifc-films-acquires-joan-rivers-20323|title=IFC Films acquires 'Joan Rivers' doc|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Gregg|last=Kiladay|date=February 4, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2020}} That same year, Stern co-directed with Sundberg and Nic Dunlop, Burma Soldier narrated by Colin Farrel,{{cite web|url=https://www.ictj.org/multimedia/audio/ictj-presents-burma-soldier|title=CTJ Presents Burma Soldier|website=ICTJ|date=June 1, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/voices/opinion/hbo-brings-personal-touch-to-burma-soldier-3675/|title=HBO Brings Personal Touch to 'Burma Soldier'|website=Variety|first=Brian|last=Lowry|date=May 10, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2020}} Stern next co-directed Secret Access: UFOS ON the Record, which premiered on the History Channel in August 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2011/08/02/secret-access-ufos-on-the-record-two-hour-special-premieres-thursday-august-25-at-8-pm-et-on-history-200012/20110802history01/|title="Secret Access: UFOs on the Record" - Two Hour Special Premieres Thursday, August 25 at 8 p.m. ET on History|website=The Futon Critic|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2020}}

In 2012, Stern co-directed Knuckleball! which follows baseball players relying on knuckleball.{{cite web|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/51974-five-questions-with-knuckleball-directors-ricki-stern-and-annie-sundberg/#.XzRlbC05TfY|title=Five Questions with Knuckleball! Directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg|website=Filmmaker|first=Kevin|last=Canfield|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/knuckleball-ricki-stern-anne-sundberg-ra-dickey_n_1888485|title='Knuckleball!' Movie: Ricki Stern & Anne Sundberg On R.A. Dickey, Tim Wakefield & Their New Doc|website=The Huffington Post|first=Christopher|last=Rosen|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=September 25, 2012}} In 2013, Stern co-directed Let Them Wear Towels, a short documentary film following Sports Illustrated reporter Melissa Ludtke being denied access to the New York Yankees players locker room, and Lisa Olson a reporter for The Boston Herald who was sexually harassed by New York Patriot members during an interview.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/nine-for-ix/story/_/id/8948904/nine-ix-film-summary-director-let-wear-towels|title=Nine for IX: 'Let Them Wear Towels'|website=ESPN|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=August 12, 2020}} From 2014 to 2016, Stern co-directed The Fashion Fund a documentary series for Amazon Prime Video following a competition led by Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenberg nominating promising designers to prove their place in the future of fashion.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/amazon-the-fashion-fund-series-diane-von-furstenberg-anna-wintour-1201564912/|title='The Fashion Fund' Series Lands At Amazon|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=October 2, 2015|access-date=August 12, 2020}}

In 2015, Stern co-directed In My Father's House following musician Rhymefest.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/03/watch-grammy-winning-rhymefest-gets-doc-treatment-in-exclusive-in-my-fathers-house-clip-248099/|title=Watch: Grammy-Winning Rhymefest Gets Doc Treatment in Exclusive 'In My Father's House' Clip|website=IndieWire|first=David|last=Canfield|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=August 12, 2020}} In 2016, Stern co-directed The Ultimate Captain America Marathon for HBO, which follows several survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings.{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/culture/movies/2016/10/01/the-first-trailer-for-hbos-marathon-bombing-documentary-is-here|title=The first trailer for HBO's marathon bombing documentary is here|website=Boston.com|first=Megan|last=Turchi|date=October 1, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2020}} In 2018, Sundberg co-directed Reversing Roe, which follows abortion laws in the United States for Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/11/entertainment/reversing-roe-review/index.html|title='Reversing Roe' explores contentious history of Roe v. Wade|website=CNN|first=Brian|last=Lowry|date=September 11, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}

In 2019, Stern co-directed The Preppy Murder: Death in Central Park following the murder of Jennifer Levin in Central Park for AMC and SundanceTV.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-preppy-murder-amc-sundance-november-13-1202653765/|title='The Preppy Murder: Death In Central Park': AMC & SundanceTV To Simulcast Doc Series From November 13 – TCA|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Peter|last=White|date=July 25, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2020}} In 2020, Stern co-directed Surviving Jeffrey Epstein for Lifetime, following survivors of convicted pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/surviving-jeffrey-epstein-r-kelly-follow-up-works-at-lifetime-1226425|title=Surviving Jeffrey Epstein' Docuseries, R. Kelly Follow-Up in the Works at Lifetime|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rick|last=Porter|date=July 23, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/surviving-jeffrey-epstein-is-a-go-at-lifetime-set-summer-premiere-1270792|title=Surviving Jeffrey Epstein' Is a Go at Lifetime, Set for Summer Premiere|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Michael|last=O'Connell|date=January 18, 2020|access-date=August 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/jeffrey-epstein-documentary-trailer-lifetime-1234711357/|title=Lifetime Releases 'Surviving Jeffrey Epstein' Trailer (Watch)|website=Variety|first=Janet|last=W. Lee|date=July 20, 2020|access-date=August 12, 2020}}