BLKNWS is an innovative media project by filmmaker Kahlil Joseph, reimagining news dispatches using YouTube clips and commentary on Black culture and identity.

Why did A24 and Participant withdraw from BLKNWS?

The article suggests a breakdown in communication and support regarding the film's completion, particularly concerning reshoots for its ending.

How did Steven Soderbergh help Kahlil Joseph's BLKNWS?

Steven Soderbergh anonymously provided the necessary funding for BLKNWS's essential reshoots when the original distributors would not.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Soderbergh Rescues Film Project From Studio Dispute

Soderbergh Rescues Film Project From Studio Dispute

26 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Filmmaker Kahlil Joseph created BLKNWS from YouTube clips.
Participant and A24 withdrew support, leaving the film unfinished.
Steven Soderbergh funded the film's crucial reshoots anonymously.

Soderbergh Rescues Film Project From Studio Dispute

Filmmaker Kahlil Joseph conceptualized BLKNWS, an alternative news platform, with Ryan Coogler in 2015, drawing inspiration from media's portrayal of Blackness. Initially utilizing YouTube clips and later evolving into short dispatches, the project gained traction and was presented at the Sundance Film Festival.

Despite its potential, BLKNWS encountered significant hurdles with distribution and funding. Major studios Participant and A24 eventually withdrew their support, jeopardizing the film's completion and leading to its removal from Sundance.

In a pivotal moment, director Steven Soderbergh stepped in, anonymously funding the film's crucial reshoots. This intervention, driven by a desire to see the project finished, allowed Joseph to overcome the studio dispute and find a new distributor, Rich Spirit.