The Filmmakers

Break Thru Films is the production company headed by Emmy nominated directors, writers, and producers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg.

Established in 1990, Break Thru Film’s productions include: "Joan Rivers – A Piece of Work" which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it won the US Documentary Prize for Best Editing; the 2008 Emmy nominated documentary feature "The Devil Came On Horseback;" and the 2007 Emmy nominated (and Oscar short listed) feature "The Trials of Darryl Hunt."

They are currently in post-production on "Burma Soldier" for HBO, a feature documentary about a former junta member and Burmese soldier who risks everything to become a pro-democracy activist. 

Break Thru Film’s many co-production partners include HBO, IFC, National Geographic Channel, A&E, MTV, PBS, TLC, Discovery, BBC, Canal Plus and Ch4.

Annie and RIcki are well known for producing and creating critically acclaimed documentaries and are sought after for their experience in directing dynamic personal journeys close to home, as well as mounting large international productions in challenging locations.

They are expanding their work into multi-part series and commercial projects, including new projects in development with the Sundance Channel and MTV.

Accomplished writers and directors in their own right, Ricki and Annie are the leading creative forces behind Break Thru Film’s productions and are known for crafting deft and cinematic journeys through unexpected territory. Each project tracks new landscape – from criminal injustice in the American South, to Darfur, to stand up comedy and celebrity culture – but all are centered on unforgettable people and their most human experiences.

In 2009, Annie and Ricki received a Sundance/Skoll "Stories of Change" production award and are currently in early production on a new documentary about the innovative program YouthBuild – following a year in the life of young people selected for a high stakes educational journey in one of the toughest communities in America. As part of the focus on YouthBuild Annie and Ricki have been commissioned by the Gates Foundation to create a series of short spots for the upcoming “Inspire Action Project” to be unveiled at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative.

FILMS:

“Joan Rivers – A Piece of Work”
(2010, 84min, IFC Films; Sundance Film Festival US Documentary Competition, Best Editing Prize)

“The Devil Came On Horseback”
(2007, 85min. NatGeo; multiple 2009 Emmy nominee, 2008 Amnesty International UK Media Award Winner Best Doc, Sundance 2007 and Gotham Award nominee)

“The Trials of Darryl Hunt"

(2006, 102min, HBO; Sundance 2006, 2008 Dupont Award, 2008 Emmy nominee, short listed for the 2007 Academy Awards for Best Documentary, and 2007 Independent Spirit Award nominee for Best Documentary)

“Tully”
(2002, 102min; Toronto, London, LA Festivals, nominated for 4 Independent Spirit Awards including Best Film 2003)

“In My Corner”
(2000, 60min; PBS/POV)

“One Survivor Remembers"
(1996, 35min, HBO; Oscar for Best Short Subject Documentary and Emmy winner for Non-Fiction special)