Doc Talks: Jeanie Finlay, Luke Lorentzen, and Erik Shirai
Doc Talks continues with filmmakers Jeanie Finlay (All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea), Luke Lorentzen (Boatbuilders), and Erik Shirai (Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing), as they discuss of the cinematic power of observational storytelling and their unique approaches to working as both directors and cinematographers.
Description
Doc Talks continues with filmmakers Jeanie Finlay (All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea), Luke Lorentzen (Boatbuilders), and Erik Shirai (Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing), as they discuss of the cinematic power of observational storytelling and their unique approaches to working as both directors and cinematographers.
About the Films
All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea
Jeanie Finlay (UK 2026, 99 min)
When a massive shellfish die-off threatens his livelihood, lifelong fisherman Stan Rennie rallies his community in a quest for answers, becoming the unlikeliest of activists.
Boatbuilders
Luke Lorentzen (USA 2026, 103 min)
A visually stunning ode to impeccable craftsmanship and the beauty of Maine, Luke Lorentzen’s latest documentary profiles the workers of Brooklin Boat Yard, a company building custom wooden yachts since 1960.
Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing
Erik Shirai (Japan, USA, UK, Denmark 2026, 99 min)
Erik Shirai cinematically captures the spectacle of strength that is the world of professional sumo wrestling, and shines a rare spotlight on the secrecy of the sport and its formidable competitors.
Attendee Information
Doc Talks is a series of filmmaker conversations exploring both the creative and practical realities of documentary storytelling. They feature acclaimed directors and producers sharing insights into their process and strategy, and are designed for both filmmakers and film lovers. Please RSVP as soon as possible if you would like to attend. This event will be overbooked to ensure full attendance, with admission available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins; we recommend arriving early to secure your spot. Note: This is a 21+ venue with a bar, all guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
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Biographies
Jeanie Finlay is a British documentary filmmaker and artist known for distinctive, intimate storytelling. She has made films for HBO, BBC, and IFC, including Sound It Out (2011), The Great Hip Hop Hoax (2013), BIFA-winning Orion: The Man Who Would Be King (2015), Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones: The Last Watch (2019), Seahorse (2019), and Your Fat Friend (2023). An honorary doctorate recipient, Finlay is also a Chicken & Egg Awardee and Sheffield DocFest Inspiration Award recipient. She founded Glimmer Films and co-founded its creative distribution arm, Glimmerama.
Luke Lorentzen is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker. His last film, A Still Small Voice (2023), followed a chaplain completing a yearlong hospital residency. The film won the US Documentary Best Director Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, was listed as one of the 10 best films of the year by the New York Times, and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Luke’s previous film, Midnight Family (Festival 2019), was also shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, after winning more than 35 awards from film festivals and organizations around the world. With Kellen Quinn, Luke is a co-founder of the independent production company Hedgehog Films.
Erik Shirai is an award winning Japanese-American filmmaker whose work is shaped by immersion and the close relationships he builds with his subjects. His first feature (The Birth of Saké) received awards from both Tribeca Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2015 and 2016 respectively and went on to be acquired by Netflix and PBS. His cinematography work includes Emmy Award–winning series No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain and HBO’s Tokyo Vice. Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing is his second documentary feature.