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Bognar And Reichert Doc "American Factory" Wins At Sundance, Possibly Heading To Netflix

Steve Bognar Julia Reichert
Eryn Montgomery

It’s been a big year for Yellow Springs filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar. Their latest documentary “American Factory” had an award winning debut recently at the Sundance Film Festival. Now, a deal with streaming giant Netflix is in the works.

“American Factory,” is a follow-up documentary to Reichert’s and Bognar’s Oscar nominated short -subject film “The Last Truck.” That 2009 documentary highlighted the devastating closure of the longstanding GM Assembly Plant in Moraine.

The new film details the plant’s rebirth as Chinese-owned Fuyao Glass America. Steven Bognar says it portrays the hope the reopening brought back to many in the community, and the cultural challenges and setbacks that followed.

Fuyao management approached the filmmakers about the project after hearing about their success with "The Last Truck" from leaders at the Dayton Development Coalition.

“Julia and I were very interested," Bognar says. "It sounded like a really historic story about to take off, but we also told everyone involved, at the company and in the city, that we would do it if it was a truly independent documentary not funded by Fuyao and where we would have editorial control.”

Bognar and Reichert received financing for “American Factory” from Participant Media. The global distribution company specializes in documentary and social-issue-focused media. Last week, the film won a Best Director award for a U.S. documentary film at the Sundance Film Festival.

Bognar.mp3
Check out the full interview with Steven Bognar here.

Bognar and Reichert, along with Participant Media, are in talks with Netflix to purchase the film. Bognar says he’s hopeful a deal can be reached.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.