MY NDA (SXSW 2026) – Review by Leslie Combemale
A fascinating and disturbing documentary has released at SXSW called My NDA. To be honest, my interest was piqued seeing it was co-directed by one of my favorite character actors, Miriam Shor, whom you might know from Younger and Pluribus. Having covered women in the film and tv industry for years, I’ve been aware of the destructive nature of NDAs and their disproportionate impact on women, so I figured her own experience inspired her desire to talk about the issue. She had my attention. Gratefully, My NDA, which is co-directed by Juliane Dressner not only kept my attention, it did so with emotion and authenticity, while making clear how NDAs can affect anyone and everyone in all corners of society.
Because they would be talking to people who had experienced the destructive, unfair, and sometimes even criminal NDAs, they decided they’d film in secret, and if any of their subjects needed to cut and run, they could cut them out of the film without potential repercussions. Ultimately, a wide variety of professionals, including those from the tech world to the film industry and to the publishing world, shared their experiences with NDAs, often in real time as they navigated the choice to come out with their stories. Ashley Kostial, who over the course of the film suffers from the impact of not only sexual assault, but the NDAs that bound her, the knowledge that NDAs signed by others allowed her assailant to continue his behavior, and abuse by her legal counsel, is featured most prominently. Seeing her emotional state and hearing her story onscreen goes way beyond the descriptor “cautionary tale”. Viewers are experiencing her struggle in real time.
The directors also follow another woman, Ifeoma Ozoma, on part of her journey. Formerly of Pinterest, she breaks her NDA and works to change legislation.
Lachlan Cartwright, former executive editor of the National Enquirer, shows how damaging to society the limits of NDAs can be. He was under an NDA when he witnessed his paper pay for and bury stories of criminal behavior, which is called CATCH AND KILL. Both Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump benefitted mightily from their criminality being hidden from the public. Weinstein might not have gone on to abuse more women. Trump would likely not be president, even the first time, had his illegal behavior been covered in 2016.
The flip side of the perspectives offered by those trapped in what they saw as corporate overreach and coverups of criminal behavior would have been to speak to representatives of the companies discussed in the film. The filmmakers reached out to them, and none were willing to speak onscreen or even make a statement in response. NDAs have proliferated in the last few years, making discrimination, abuse and unfair pay trade secrets. With this documentary, Shor and Dressner are making audiences more aware of the need for comprehensive NDA reform, and better protection for those they exploit.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
