The Outsider

In this gripping documentary, filmmaker Steven Rosenbaum and Pamela Yoder chronicle the rise and fall of Michael Shulan, a visionary behind one of America's most iconic memorial sites, from his humble beginnings as a struggling novelist to his tumultuous tenure as Creative Director of the National 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero. As Shulan's dream project takes shape, he finds himself battling to preserve its original vision amidst increasing commercialization and touristification, ultimately leaving the institution just days before its 2014 opening. Through intimate footage collected over eight years, The Outsider offers a poignant exploration of artistic integrity, institutional pressure, and the enduring impact of trauma on our collective psyche.