The Stringer

Admission is free. No advance reservations. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. The box office opens one hour before the event.

The Stringer

U.S., 2025

Through unprecedented on-the-ground access, journalists brought the Vietnam War to the living rooms of a global audience. Public outcry and resistance grew as brutal and bloody images reached the homes of millions. One of the most recognizable images taken during the conflict, “The Terror of War,” featured a young, unclothed girl running following a napalm attack. The photograph would become a turning point for the hearts and minds of the world, earning photographer Nick Út a Pulitzer Prize. Decades later, Bao Nguyen’s gripping film documents a possible revelation of the photograph’s long-held secret and the chain reaction that follows. A story of record unravels through forensic tools, first-hand accounts, and an emotional, climactic reunion. Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, The Stringer sparked controversy in the photojournalism world, raising questions about the editorial power structures that propelled the stature of some photographers over the obscurity of others. Following the screening, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, producer Terri Lichstein, and line producer Jenni Trang Le will discuss the two-year journey of the making of The Stringer.

DCP, color, 100 min. Director: Bao Nguyen, Producers: Terri Lichstein and Fiona Turner. With: Gary Knight and Nguyễn Thành Nghệ.

Programmed and note written by Archive Director May Hong HaDuong.