The Wrap: John Ridley Explores the Art of Documentary Filmmaking With Industry Insiders for ‘Critical Content’ Series (Video)

"Writer-director John Ridley discussed the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking with industry insiders for his ‘Critical Content: Stories That Matter’ documentary film event. 

Ridley, who took home an Oscar for adapting “12 Years a Slave,” sat down with Flee director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Faya Dayi director Jessica Beshir, and Summer of Soul filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. With regards to the animated movie Flee, Ridley admitted the film hadn’t been on his radar. 

'I was not aware of Flee,' Ridley said. 'Someone pitched it to me and they said, ‘it’s — in short — it’s a film about immigration.’ But the film is about so much more than just that and there’s some things even in this conversation, I’d love to keep just a little bit arcane because I really believe people need to see this film and they need to feel it.' "