Brian Knappenberger

Brian Knappenberger is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, known for Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press, The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists and his work on Bloomberg Game Changers.

In June 2017, Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press was released as a Netflix original documentary. Directed by Knappenberger, the film examines the trial between wrestler Hulk Hogan and Gawker Media, which pitted privacy rights against freedom of the press, but ended up as a case study in how big money can silence media through legal means.

In June 2014, The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz was released. The film was on the shortlist for the 2015 Academy Award for best documentary feature, along with Citizenfour and 13 other films.

The documentary film We Are Legion (2012) was also written and directed by Knappenberger. It is about the workings and beliefs of the self-described hacktivist collective Anonymous.

Knappenberger has directed and executive produced numerous other documentaries for the Discovery Channel, Bloomberg, and PBS, including PBS’ Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey. He owns and operates Luminant Media, a Los Angeles based production and post-production company.