2023 Schedule

Screening: Chop & Steele

This hilarious and eye-opening documentary features Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett on a journey as they book their uproarious gag strongman routine on unsuspecting morning news programs. Their pranks quickly go viral, thrusting them into federal court as they face off against a vengeful media conglomerate.

The screening will be followed by a conversation with Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett.

Chop & Steele (2022)
Chop & Steele (2022) – 1 h 21 min
Directed by Berndt Mader, Ben Steinbauer

Panelist: Nick Prueher
Co-Star of Chop & Steele and Co-Founder of the Found Footage Film Festival

Panelist: Joe Pickett
Co-Star of Chop & Steele and Co-Founder of the Found Footage Film Festival

Moderator: Anup Kumar
Professor, School of Communication


Screening: She Said

Acclaimed actor Carey Mulligan, a two-time Academy Award® nominee for her roles in Promising Young Woman and An Education, joins forces with Emmy nominee Zoe Kazan, known for her work in The Plot Against America and The Big Sick. They take on the roles of New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who, as a dynamic duo, unveiled one of the most significant stories of a generation. Their groundbreaking revelation shattered decades of silence surrounding sexual assault in Hollywood and ignited a cultural transformation that resonates in American society today.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion centered around the #MeToo movement and its intersection with the legal landscape.

She Said (2022)
She Said (2022) – 2 h 9 min
Directed by Maria Schrader

Panelist: Christa Laser
Assistant Professor of Law

Has a decade of practice experience as an intellectual property litigator at the law firms WilmerHale and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She has represented leading life sciences and technology companies in all stages of trial and appellate matters and consulted on legislative changes to intellectual property laws.

Panelist: Ann Marie-Ahern
Principal, McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman, Co. LPA.

As head of the firm’s employment group, Marie-Ahern has devoted her career to representing people in employment disputes. She is an award-winning advocate and a top Labor & Employment Specialist in the state of Ohio.

Moderator: Cigdem Slankard
Director, School of Film & Media Arts


Screening: Legally Blonde

This hilarious comedy classic follows Elle Woods, a sorority queen who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend and ends up proving that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the legal world. With her signature style, unwavering determination, and unexpected brilliance, Elle challenges stereotypes and turns her life around in this empowering tale of self-discovery.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion focused on gender in film and law.

Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde (2001) – 1 h 36 min
Directed by Robert Luketic

Screening: Lovely Jackson

This compelling documentary captures the remarkable journey of Rickey Jackson, America’s longest wrongfully held exonerated prisoner, as he revisits the prison where his 39-year battle for exoneration began. In a poignant twist, he takes the role of a guide, leading his younger self from death row to the path of freedom.

After the screening, stay tuned for a panel discussion tackling the profound issue of injustice and wrongful convictions within the American legal system. This engaging conversation will feature the film’s subject, Rickey Jackson, and the film’s director, Matt Waldeck.

Lovely Jackson (2022)
Lovely Jackson (2022) – 1 h 44 min
Directed by Matt Waldeck

Panelist: Rickey Jackson
Film Subject

Panelist: Matt Waldeck
Film Director

Panelist: Terry Gilbert
Founding Partner & Civil Rights Attorney, Friedman, Gilbert, & Gerhardstein

Panelist: Laura Greig
CSU|LAW Terry Gilbert Wrongful Conviction Clinic Director

Panelist: Kwame Ajamu
Exonerated prisoner & Chairman of the Board, Witness To Innocence

Moderator: Jonathan Witmer-Rich
Professor, CSU|LAW; Co-director of the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center


Screening: 26.2 to Life

26.2 to Life is an inspiring documentary about strength and redemption. Every November, inside the walls of San Quentin State Prison, an extraordinary event unfolds: the 1000 Miles Club Marathon. Despite their incarceration, participants step onto the dirt and concrete track, completing a staggering 105 laps, striving to be champions and transcend the statistics that define their lives.

After the screening, join us for an enlightening panel discussion centered around criminal justice and the theme of redemption. We are honored to have the film’s director, Christine Yoo, as a part of this insightful conversation.

26.2 to Life (2022)
26.2 to Life (2022) – 1 h 30 min
Directed by Christine Yoo

Panelist: Markelle Taylor

Formerly incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, Taylor, 50, fully earned his long standing nickname in 2019 at the San Quentin Marathon, where he barreled through 104 and a half laps around the prison yard with its gantlet of 90-degree turns, fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he ran six weeks after his release.

Panelist: Jaclyn Range
Director, Back on My Feet Cleveland Chapter*; Marathon Runner Enthusiast

As the executive director of Back On My Feet Baltimore, a national nonprofit focused on helping people experiencing homelessness gain independence and living skills, Range oversees development, operations, and management for the hundreds of volunteers and clients the organization serves.

Moderator: Robert Triozzi
CSU|LAW Professor; Co-director of the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center

Triozzi has been actively engaged in a wide range of experience in legal, civic and public policy matters at the highest levels throughout his career.