Stephen Curry is Now an Award-Winning Film Director 🏆
We know him as the greatest shooter in NBA history. We know him as a four-time champion. But as of this week, Stephen Curry has a new title to add to his Hall of Fame resume: Sundance Film Festival Winner.
In a stunning crossover between the hardwood and Hollywood, Curry’s directorial debut, “The Baddest Speechwriter of All,” took home the prestigious Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Co-directed with two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot (known for The Queen of Basketball and The Last Repair Shop), the documentary beat out over 11,000 submissions to claim the festival’s top honor for short films.
The Story: A Hidden Figure of History
The film doesn’t focus on sports. Instead, it shines a light on Clarence B. Jones, the 93-year-old lawyer and speechwriter who was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidants.
Jones was the man who secretly smuggled King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” out of prison and helped draft the “I Have a Dream” speech. The documentary offers an intimate look at Jones’ life, reflecting on the personal costs of the Civil Rights Movement and the surprising truths behind history’s most famous moments.
The Sundance Jury was effusive in their praise, stating:
“This film implores us to take action with a message that is timeless and timely… Through the eyes of its subject, we find one of the most important moments in modern history has a new perspective.”
From Executive Producer to Director
This isn’t Curry’s first time at the Oscars rodeo—he was an executive producer on Proudfoot’s The Queen of Basketball which won an Academy Award in 2022—but this project marks his official debut in the director’s chair.
According to Proudfoot, the collaboration wasn’t just a vanity project for the NBA star. Curry was deeply involved in the creative process after striking up a personal mentorship with Jones years ago.
“Stephen had a very clear idea of what stories of Clarence’s he wanted to explore,” Proudfoot said in a recent interview. “He also happens to be, you know, one of the greatest basketball players ever.”
What’s Next: The Oscars?
With a Sundance Grand Jury Prize in hand, “The Baddest Speechwriter of All” is now essentially locked as a frontrunner for the 2027 Academy Awards.
For Curry, the win comes amidst another grueling NBA season with the Warriors, proving once again that his range extends far beyond the three-point line. He wasn’t in Park City to accept the award in person—he was busy preparing to play the Utah Jazz—but his impact on the film world is becoming undeniable.
If he keeps this up, the “EGOT” conversation might not be as crazy as it sounds.
