Down a Dark Stairwell

Down a Dark Stairwell is a 2020 documentary about the 2014 shooting of Akai Gurley in New York City produced by the film production company Noncompliant Films and directed by Ursula Liang. The documentary made its debut broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens on April 12, 2021.^[2][3][4] It was later broadcast on the Criterion Channel^[5] and distributed by Kino Lorber on their streaming platform ^[6] and Kanopy.^[7]

Down a Dark Stairwell
DVD cover
Directed by	Ursula Liang
Written by	Michelle Chang J.M. Harper Ursula Liang
Produced by	Ursula Liang & Rajal Pitroda
Edited by	Michelle Chang J.M Harper
Music by	Andrew Orkin Scott "CHOPS" Jung
Distributed by	Kino Lorber
Release date	March 2020 (2020-03) (True/Fase Film Festival)[1]
Languages	English with some Cantonese and Mandarin

Synopsis

In 2014, Akai Gurley was walking with his friend in a dark stairwell of a public housing project when he was shot by NYPD officer Peter Liang. The film covers the events after the shooting and follows a multi-cultural coalition of protesters who support the conviction of Liang. In contrast, the film also follows Asian-American community protesters that argue Liang was used as a scapegoat.

Awards

• Les Blank Award, Best Documentary Feature, Ashland Independent Festival 2020^[8]
• Special Jury Recognition, Documentary Feature Editing, Ashland Independent Festival 2020
• Best of Documentary, Indy Film Festival
• Best Documentary Award, Truth to Power, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival^[9]
• Grand Jury Award, Best Documentary Feature, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival^[10]
• Audience Award, San Diego Asian Film Festival