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Matt Ruskin discusses Crown Heights

How far would you go for justice? That question is asked and answered in Director Matt Ruskin’s new drama, Crown Heights.

Adapted from an acclaimed segment of the podcast/radio program This American Life, Ruskin’s film tells the amazing true story of Colin Warner, a Trinidadian immigrant wrongfully convicted of murder when he was still just a teenager in Brooklyn during the 1980s. Convinced of his innocence, Colin’s childhood friend Carl King spends two decades fighting for Colin’s freedom and exposing the injustice of his incarceration. Crown Heights earned Ruskin a Grand Jury Prize nomination and took home the Audience Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on August 27, Ruskin sat down with Director Gavin O’Connor (The Accountant) to discuss the making of Crown Heights.

In addition to Crown Heights, Ruskin’s credits include the feature film Booster; and the documentaries The Hip Hop Project and Glen of the Downs. Ruskin has been a DGA member since 2015.

You can listen to Ruskin's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find all DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Shane Karns - Print courtesy of Amazon.

Director Matt Ruskin speaks about the making of his new drama, Crown Heights, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.
Lakeith Stanfield as Colin Warner in Director Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights.
Director Matt Ruskin (right) speaks about the making of Crown Heights with Director Gavin O’Connor (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.
Lakeith Stanfield as Colin Warner and Nestor Carbonell as Bruce Regenstreich in Director Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights.
Director Gavin O’Connor (moderator) asks Matt Ruskin a question about the making of Crown Heights.
Bill Camp as William Robedee in Director Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights.
Directors Gavin O’Connor (moderator) and Matt Ruskin pose for a photo following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of Ruskin’s new drama, Crown Heights.
Nnamdi Asomugha as Carl King in Director Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights.
Director Matt Ruskin chats with members of the audience following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of his new drama, Crown Heights.

Calendar

8/26/2025 - 9/1/2025

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