Down a Dark Stairwell

Down a Dark Stairwell
Down a Dark Stairwell
Directed by	Ursula Liang
Written by	Michelle Chang; J.M. Harper; Ursula Liang;
Produced by	Ursula Liang & Rajal Pitroda
Edited by	Michelle Chang; J.M Harper;
Music by	Andrew Orkin; Scott "CHOPS" Jung;
Release date	March 2020 (True/Fase Film Festival);
Languages	English with some Cantonese and Mandarin

Down a Dark Stairwell is a 2020 documentary about the 2014 shooting of Akai Gurley in New York City. The film made its debut broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens on April 12, 2021.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Synopsis[]

In 2014, Akai Gurley was walking with his friend in a dark stairwell of a public housing project when he was shot by NYPD officer Peter Liang. The film covers the events after the shooting and follows a multi-cultural coalition of protesters who support the conviction of Liang. In contrast, the film also follows Asian-American community protesters that argue Liang was used as a scapegoat.

Awards[]

Les Blank Award, Best Documentary Feature, Ashland Independent Festival 2020^[5]
Special Jury Recognition, Documentary Feature Editing, Ashland Independent Festival 2020
Best of Documentary, Indy Film Festival
Best Documentary Award, Truth to Power, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival^[6]
Grand Jury Award, Best Documentary Feature, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival^[7]
Audience Award, San Diego Asian Film Festival

References[]

^ Sebastián Martínez Valdivia (May 21, 2021). "Revisiting Weirdness with Lance Oppenheim". True/False (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
^ "DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL | Films | Independent Lens | PBS". Independent Lens. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^ Cohn, Gabe (April 12, 2021). "What's on TV This Week: 'Our Towns' and 'Beethoven in Beijing'". The New York Times.
^ "Ursula Liang's new film 'Down a Dark Stairwell' explores 2014 police shooting of Akai Gurley". The Bay State Banner. February 4, 2021.
^ A, Project. "ashland independent film festival". ashland independent film festival. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^ "Awards". Reel Asian. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^ "DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL". 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-12-18.

[1] Sebastián Martínez Valdivia (May 21, 2021). "Revisiting Weirdness with Lance Oppenheim". True/False (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[2] "DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL | Films | Independent Lens | PBS". Independent Lens. Retrieved 2020-12-18.

[3] Cohn, Gabe (April 12, 2021). "What's on TV This Week: 'Our Towns' and 'Beethoven in Beijing'". The New York Times.

[4] "Ursula Liang's new film 'Down a Dark Stairwell' explores 2014 police shooting of Akai Gurley". The Bay State Banner. February 4, 2021.

[5] A, Project. "ashland independent film festival". ashland independent film festival. Retrieved 2020-12-18.

[6] "Awards". Reel Asian. Retrieved 2020-12-18.

[7] "DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL". 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-12-18.

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