SFFILM Festival Opening Night Features New Film About Local Legend Stephen Curry

Mar 19, 2023

Here’s why we’re excited for the West Coast and hometown premiere of Stephen Curry: Underrated, Peter Nicks’ new documentary about the four-time NBA champ.

Stephen Curry interviewing at Davidson College. Photo Courtesy of Apple Original Films.

The 66th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) will tip off with a feature-length documentary that scored some serious points from audiences at the 2023 Sundance International Film Festival: Stephen Curry: Underrated. Directed by Oakland local and Emmy Award-winner Peter Nicks, Underrated is the latest Apple Original Films and A24 movie you need to see.. The Steph Curry doc is also produced by Oaklander and Fruitvale Station and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, who recently accepted the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction at SFFILM Awards Night. All of these Oakland connections are part of what makes us most excited for the SFFILM Festival Opening Night screenings of Underrated at the city’s historic Grand Lake Theatre.

What Is Stephen Curry: Underrated About?

Stephen Curry: Underrated is the remarkable coming-of-age story of one of the most influential, dynamic, and unexpected players in the history of basketball: Stephen Curry. This feature documentary—which blends intimate cinéma vérité, archival footage, and on-camera interviews—documents Curry’s rise from an undersized college player at a tiny Division I college to a four-time NBA champion, who built one of the most dominant sports dynasties in the world.

It is directed by Peter Nicks, who returns to the Festival for the fourth time. Nicks previously screened The Waiting Room (SFFILM Festival, 2012), The Force (SFFILM Festival, 2016), and Homeroom (SFFILM Festival, 2021) here at SFFILM and his latest film celebrates the iconic NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Nicks intertwines Curry’s emergence on the court at Davidson College with thrilling footage of the 2021–2022 Golden State Warriors season, when the team won its fourth championship of the Curry era. In the film, Nicks turns his lens to Curry’s feelings and thoughts about not only his sports ambitions but also his family and academic aspirations as well.

Stephen Curry: Underrated premiered at Sundance, and includes quiet moments of reflection from Steph Curry along with a wealth of behind the scenes access to the local legend. The film is produced by Peter Nicks, Ryan Coogler, Erick Peyton, Sean Havey, Ben Cotner, and Marissa Torres Ericson with Emily Osborne, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler as executive producers.

Stephen Curry in warmup gear before a game. Photo Courtesy of Apple Original Films.

Who Is Peter Nicks?

Emmy award-winning director and producer Peter Nicks has called Oakland, California home since 1997. He has been part of the SFFILM community as a filmmaker, grantee, honoree, mentor, and valued partner for well over a decade. His Oakland Trilogy has been part of three SFFILM Festival programs respectively: The Waiting Room (SFFILM Festival, 2012), The Force (SFFILM Festival, 2017), and Homeroom (SFFILM Festival, 2021).

“SFFILM has been a supporter of mine from the beginning of my trilogy about Oakland institutions and I’m proud to partner with them on my latest project, which is about another Bay Area institution of sorts,” said Director, Peter Nicks. “Stephen Curry’s story is at once universal and personal, a thrilling expression of the power of pushing beyond expectations and fighting to be seen. These themes are not only woven deeply into Stephen’s story but also that of the town itself and I’m excited to share the film soon at Oakland’s legendary Grand Lake Theater.”

Director Peter Nicks on the red carpet of the Golden Gate Awards at the 2017 SFFILM Festival. Photo Courtesy of SFFILM.

Where Can I Watch Steph Curry: Underrated?

Stephen Curry: Underrated will open the 66th San Francisco International Film Festival with two screenings at the historic Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. It’s exciting to welcome an Oakland-based filmmaker into a legendary local movie palace for a documentary about a person who remains near and dear to many residents of The Town. Director Peter Nicks and producer Ryan Coogler are expected to join us for both screenings.

Want to celebrate even more? A limited number of tickets will be available for public purchase to the Opening Night Party which will be held at OMCA, the Oakland Museum of California. See the film, hear from the filmmakers, and join us for our opening night party on Thursday, April 13. The two screenings of the film will happen at 6:30 pm PT and 9:30 pm PT. The SFFILM Opening Night Party will start at 9 pm PT and run until midnight.

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