Steal This Story, Please! is a 2025 American documentary film which explores the life and career of independent investigative journalist Amy Goodman and her work on the news program Democracy Now!. It was directed by Oscar-nominated, Emmy Awards-winning filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal. Musician and political activist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave), as well as actresses and political activists Jane Fonda and Rosario Dawson, are among the executive producers.
For its world premiere, Steal This Story, Please! opened the DC/DOX film festival in Washington, D.C. on June 12, 2025. The international premiere took place on November 15, 2025, at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. In both instances, the screening was followed by an in-person discussion involving Amy Goodman and filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, about the importance of independent journalism.
Cast Amy Goodman Juan González Jeremy Scahill David Isay Nermeen Shaikh Sharif Abdel Kouddous Zazu
Release Steal This Story, Please! was screened at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2025.
The film was presented in the True Stories section of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 3, 2026.
Reception Critical response Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on six critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) ResultCinema for Peace Awards 16 February 2026 Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year Steal This Story, Please! Mill Valley International Film Festival September 2025 Winner: Audience Favorite, Mind the Gap Steal This Story, Please! WinnerJewish Film Institute2025Harvey Goldberg AwardSteal This Story, Please!WinnerSeattle Intl Film Festival DocFest October 2025 Audience Award, Best Documentary Film Steal This Story, Please! WinnerWoodstock Film Festival October 2025 Audience Award, Best Documentary Film Steal This Story, Please! WinnerSanta Fe Intl Film Festival October, 2025 Special Jury Award, Documentary Feature Steal This Story, Please! WinnerSanta Fe Intl Film Festival November, 2025 Audience Choice, Best Documentary Feature Steal This Story, Please! WinnerSt Louis Intl Film Festival November, 2025 Audience Choice Award: Best Documentary Film Steal This Story, Please! WinnerHamptons Docfest December 2025 Audience Award Steal This Story, Please! WinnerPalm Springs International Film Festival January 2026 Audience Award Steal This Story, Please! WinnerHindsight Film Festival January 2026 Best Feature Film Steal This Story, Please! WinnerHindsight Film FestivalJanuary 2026Best Use of Personal PerspectiveWinnerHuman Film Festival January 2026 Best Documentary Film Steal This Story, Please! WinnerSanta Barbara Film Festival February 2026 Audience Award Steal This Story, Please! WinnerSanta Barbara Film Festival February 2026 The Fund for Santa Barbara Social Justice Award Steal This Story, Please! WinnerCleveland Film Festival April 2026 Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition Steal This Story, Please! WinnerJewish Film Institute July 2026 Harvey Goldberg Award Steal This Story, Please! WinnerPittsburgh Jewish Film FestivalMay 2026Audience AwardSteal This Story, Please!WinnerMendocino Film FestivalJune 2026Audience AwardSteal This Story, Please!Winner
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