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Emmy-winning director Bridget Stokes will make her feature debut with the genre-bending detective story “Zugzwang.”
In 2022, Stokes made history as the first Black woman to win an Emmy for directing a variety series in honor of her work on HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” created by Robin Thede. Now, Stokes wrote and will direct the fantasy-noir, which centers on a private detective named Lady who, the logline explains, “takes on a risky case in hopes of redemption, only to find herself pulled into an ever‑expanding world of corruption.”
Christina Elmore (“Insecure”) stars in the film, leading an ensemble cast that includes Hannah Love Lanier (“Lioness”), Kathreen Khavari (“This Is Spinal Tap 2”) and Angel Laketa Moore (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”).
“’Zugzwang’ is a story about confronting the parts of ourselves we’ve buried in order to survive,” Stokes said in a statement announcing the project. “Lady’s journey is both thrilling and deeply human — an exploration of what happens when we finally stop fighting the universe and learn how to dance with it instead.”
The film is fiscally sponsored by Film Independent and produced by Erin Owens (“History of the World: Part II”) and Lauri Levenfeld (“Vespertine”).
“This story immediately resonated with me because it speaks to an audience hungry for thrilling, meaningful narratives about women stepping into their agency and power,” said Levenfeld.
“Bridget has crafted a world that feels both intimate and expansive,” Owens added. “We’re thrilled to bring this story to life with such an extraordinary cast and creative team.”
Joining Stokes behind the camera are Artios award-winning casting director Erica A. Hart; Grammy‑nominated composer Maejor; Emmy‑nominated production designers Michele Yu and Cindy Chao; post producer Kaitlyn Yang; editor Veronica Rutledge; and director of photography Kevin Atkinson. Atkinson’s latest project, David Wain’s “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” will debut later this month at the Sundance Film Festival. Stokes, Owens and Levenfeld will also visit Park City to meet with potential distributors and partners as “Zugzwang” moves into its next phase of development.
English (US) ·