Stephen Curry receives recognition at Sundance Film Festival for co-directing short film
Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry is expanding his credentials to include award-winning director.
“The Baddest Speechwriter of All,” a short film directed by Curry in collaboration with Canadian filmmaker Ben Proudfoot, won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday evening.
“Stephen and I are overjoyed [him much more than I] with this remarkable acknowledgment,” Proudfoot stated, as reported by Deadline.
Produced by Proudfoot’s Breakwater Studios alongside Curry and Unanimous Media, “The Baddest Speechwriter of All” narrates the story of Clarence B. Jones, an attorney and advisor who played a significant role as a speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It explores Jones’ personal reflections on making history and provides an insider’s view of the Civil Rights Movement.
Congratulations to the recipient of the Short Film Grand Jury Prize
Presented by @KetelOne pic.twitter.com/zWWCZVZLvH
— Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 28, 2026
Proudfoot, who has collaborated with Curry before, mentioned that the Golden State Warriors guard has contributed to his growth as a filmmaker.
“On a personal level, sharing creative responsibilities with Stephen, one of the greatest athletes alive and genuinely a good person, has provided me with the chance to develop as a filmmaker and be involved in telling a story I likely would not have encountered had Stephen not reached out to me,” Proudfoot remarked.
Curry and Proudfoot previously teamed up on “The Queen of Basketball,” a 2022 Oscar-winning short film about Lusia Harris, who made the first basket in Olympic women’s basketball history and was the first woman officially drafted by an NBA team. Curry and Shaquille O’Neal served as executive producers, while Proudfoot directed.
Curry was not present at the Sundance Film Festival, currently being held in Park City, Utah. According to Deadline, Proudfoot and Curry intend to celebrate the award following the Warriors’ game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Curry is currently averaging 27.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and five assists this season.
