The moment Marlee Matlin stepped onstage at the 1987 Academy Awards as the first deaf actor to win an Oscar for “Children of a Lesser God” appeared to be a joyous triumph. At 21, she rocketed to international fame and was given the immediate and often heavy mantle of deaf emissary,

Marlee Matlin gives an unflinchingly honest account of her experiences as a deaf actor in the funny and revelatory documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.”

Marlee Matlin and director Shoshannah Stern join us at the THR studio in Park City to talk all about their documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Matlin reveals why this was the moment to tell her story onscreen and choosing a director like Stern for the film.

“I was afraid as I walked up the stairs to get the Oscar,” Matlin recalled about the moment in an interview with filmmaker Shoshannah Stern. “I was afraid because I knew in my gut that he wasn’t happy. Because I saw the look on his face and my thought was, ‘S–t!'”

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah)- the first deaf actress to win an Oscar award, Marlee Matlin shares her journey through her documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.” Film

In The Times’ first daily newsletter from Sundance 2025, two films that elevate the celebrity bio-doc and an interview with the director of ‘Ricky.’

John Lithgow, who stars alongside Olivia Colman in "Jimpa" shared his excitement. "It's so exciting! I don't think I've ever been in the opening premiere at Sundance. We were thrilled to get that invitation."

Oscar winner Marlee Matlin experienced the magic of a Sundance premiere virtually when the heartfelt indie “CODA” made its debut at the fest (it then sold for $25 million to Apple on the way to winning the Oscar for best picture).

Not Alone Anymore" during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. (Photo by

Tessa Thompson attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Gala Fundraiser during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.

Dropbox is proud to partner with IndieWire and the Sundance Film Festival. In 2025, 68% of feature films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival used Dropbox in their film production. Dropbox helps filmmakers and creative teams find, organize, and secure all the files that are important to any project.

One of the greatest things about Sundance is that it’s often the under-the-radar movies that become the breakouts.