Steal This Story, Please!

Ohio Premiere

Showings

Festival tickets go on sale March 18, with visionaries and members receiving early access for ticket purchase.

April 10, 2026
12:15 pm – 1:56 pm
Playhouse Square Campus
CSU Screening Room at the Idea Center (Floor 6)
April 12, 2026
2:40 pm – 4:31 pm
Cedar Lee Theatre

About This Film

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Festival Year: 2026
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Run Time: 101 Minutes
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Film Type: Feature
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Animated: No
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Genre: Documentary
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Countr(ies): USA
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Language: English
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English Subtitles: No
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Captions: None

Film Overview

Undeterred by armed soldiers, smooth-talking politicians, and riot police, fiercely independent journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. Steal This Story, Please! is a gripping portrait of the trailblazer whose unwavering commitment to truth-telling spans three decades of turbulent history. From the frontlines of global conflicts to the organized chaos of her daily news show Democracy Now!, Goodman broadcasts stories and voices routinely silenced by commercial media.

Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin take us behind the scenes with the warm, wisecracking granddaughter of an Orthodox rabbi — raised in a tradition of asking hard questions – as she navigates a news landscape reshaped by technology, corporate consolidation, and political assaults on truth itself. Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, Steal This Story, Please! is both a call to action and a celebration of resistance, posing the question: what happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power?

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Programmer's Comment:

“Amy takes the First Amendment of the Constitution to a very passionate level. Fierce. You’ll love her.” – Samira

Film Contact: Xceptional Communications

Cast & Crew

Directed By

Carl Deal Headshot
Carl Deal
Tia Lessin Headshot
Tia Lessin

Produced By

Karen Ranucci, Diana Cohn, Dominique Bravo, Caren Spruch

Cinematographers

Cliff Charles, Nausheen Dadabhoy, Julia Dengel, Daniel Marracino, Keith Walker

Editors

Mona Davis

Principal Cast

Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez, Nermeen Shaikh, Jeremy Scahill

Sponsors & Community Partners

Cleveland VOTES
Community Partner
The City Club of Cleveland
Community Partner
Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Community Partner