THU APR 23, 2026 8:00 PM

THE BRITTNEY GRINER STORY

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Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Alexandria Stapleton. Moderated by Matthew Carey. Pre-recorded introduction by Brittney Griner.

West Coast Premiere

Popcorn & soda courtesy of ESPN

‘This Is Not a Fiction 2026’

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  • RELEASED IN: 2026
  • 107 MINUTES
  • DIRECTED BY: Alexandria Stapleton

ABOUT THE FILM:

Explores the circumstances that led to Brittney Griner playing basketball outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport, including her harrowing detainment, unwavering determination to secure her freedom, and her advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees.

The media frenzy surrounding the detainment and eventual release of Brittney Griner was highly politicized, fueled by speculation and attempts to leverage her narrative to advance political agendas. Now, director Alexandria Stapleton gives the floor to Griner to tell her story, alongside her wife, Cherelle, and an inner circle of friends and family.

This intimate access grounds the film in Griner’s humanity, reminding us she is a wife, parent, daughter, sister and friend — far more than just an athlete-turned-political pawn. Griner opens up about her childhood, the disappointment and fear surrounding her detainment, her harrowing experience in a Russian penal colony and the complicated negotiations to get her home. It’s a riveting story of resilience, anchored by a family who never stopped pushing for her release and that of others.

FORMAT: DCP

DISTRIBUTOR: ESPN

COUNTRY: USA