| Seized | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sharon Liese |
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Jackson Montemayor |
| Edited by | Derek Boonstra |
Production company | Herizon Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Seized is an upcoming American documentary film directed by Sharon Liese. It investigates the 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record in Marion, Kansas, and the subsequent death of its 98-year-old co-owner, Joan Meyer.
The film is executive produced by George R. Hearst III and is scheduled to premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The film documents the events surrounding the police raid on the offices of the Marion County Record , a local newspaper in Marion, Kansas. It explores the international spotlight thrust upon the small town, the death of the paper's 98-year-old co-owner following the stress of the raid, and the ensuing debate regarding abuse of power, journalistic ethics, and the First Amendment. [2]
The film is directed by Sharon Liese, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for Transhood (2020) and the Oscar-shortlisted The Flagmakers . Liese previously screened her short film Parker at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. [2]
The production team includes producers Sasha Alpert and Paul Matyasovsky. Notable executive producers include George R. Hearst III, a publisher and member of the prominent Hearst family.
Seized was announced as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on December 10, 2025.
