The Laramie Project (film)

The Laramie Project is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Moisés Kaufman and starring Nestor Carbonell, Christina Ricci, Dylan Baker, Terry Kinney, and Lou Ann Wright. Based on the play of the same name, the film tells the story of the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. It premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and was first broadcast on HBO in March 2002.

The Laramie Project
DVD cover
Based on	The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman Tectonic Theater Project
Screenplay by	Moisés Kaufman
Directed by	Moisés Kaufman
Starring	Nestor Carbonell Christina Ricci Dylan Baker Terry Kinney Lou Ann Wright
Music by	Peter Golub
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Declan Baldwin
Cinematography	Terry Stacey
Editor	Brian A. Kates
Running time	97 minutes
Production companies	Good Machine HBO Films
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	January 10, 2002 (2002-01-10)

Cast

• Néstor Carbonell as Moisés Kaufman
• Christina Ricci as Romaine Patterson
• Dylan Baker as Rulon Stacey
• Terry Kinney as Dennis Shepard
• Lou Ann Wright as Judy Shepard
• Mark Webber as Aaron McKinney
• Laura Linney as Sherry Johnson
• Peter Fonda as Dr. Cantwore
• Jeremy Davies as Jedadiah Schultz
• Camryn Manheim as Rebecca Hillicker
• Andy Paris as Stephen Belber
• Grant Varjas as Greg Pierotti
• Kelli Simpkins as Leigh Fondakowski
• Clea DuVall as Amanda Gronich
• James Murtaugh as Reverend Fred Phelps
• Frances Sternhagen as Marge Murray
• Michael Emerson as Reverend
• Summer Phoenix as Jen Malmskog
• Margo Martindale as Trish Steger
• Steve Buscemi as Doc O'Connor
• Greg Pierotti as Jon Peacock
• Janeane Garofalo as Catherine Connolly
• John McAdams as Jonas Slonaker
• Joshua Jackson as Matt Galloway
• Ben Foster as Aaron Kreifels
• Amy Madigan as Officer Reggie Flutty
• Tom Bower as Father Roger Schmit
• Clancy Brown as Rob Debree
• Kathleen Chalfant as Female Rancher
• Bill Irwin as Harry Woods
• Lois Smith as Lucy Thompson

Reception

Matt Roush of TV Guide praised the film for "elevating Shepard's murder to a higher crossroads of journalism and theatricality." Roush singled out the film's cast, and its "original" and "unique investigation", likening its focus on Nestor Carbonell's Kaufman to Truman Capote making himself the star of In Cold Blood. Roush also noted the film's emotional range and its examination of homophobia, saying that it could "enlighten" viewers.^[1]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2002	Berlin International Film Festival	First Movie Award	Moisés Kaufman	Won	[2]
	Gotham Awards	Breakthrough Director (Open Palm Award)		Nominated	[3]
	Humanitas Prize	90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television		Won	[4]
	National Board of Review Awards	Best Film Made for Cable TV		Won	[5]
	Online Film & Television Association Awards	Best Motion Picture Made for Television		Nominated	[6]
		Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries	Amy Madigan	Nominated
		Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
	Outfest	Outstanding Artistic Achievement	Moisés Kaufman	Won	[2]
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Television Movie	Ross Katz, Anne Carey, Ted Hope, Peter Cane, Roy Gabay, and Declan Baldwin	Nominated	[7]
		Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie	Moisés Kaufman	Nominated
		Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie	Stephen Belber, Leigh Fondakowski, Amanda Gronich, Moisés Kaufman, Jeffrey LaHoste, John McAdams, Andy Paris, Greg Pierotti, Barbara Pitts, Kelli Simpkins, and Stephen Wangh	Nominated
		Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special	Ann Goulder	Nominated
2003	GLAAD Media Awards	Outstanding Television Movie		Won	[2]
	Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards	Best Hair Styling – Television Mini-Series/Movie of the Week	Roseanne Reid and Tanya Barnes-Jones	Nominated	[8]
	Producers Guild of America Awards	David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television	Ross Katz, Anne Carey, Ted Hope, and Declan Baldwin	Nominated	[9]
	Satellite Awards	Best Television Film		Nominated	[10]
		Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Jeremy Davies	Nominated
			Terry Kinney	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Frances Sternhagen	Nominated

See also

• Anatomy of a Hate Crime
• The Matthew Shepard Story