Defender
“A feature film about criminal justice, through the eyes of SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi.”
Synopsis
Jeff Adachi is a public defender in San Francisco who takes on the misdemeanor case of 22-year-old Michael Smith, who pleaded not guilty in one of the first body camera cases in the city when he was charged with nine counts of resisting arrest. This urgent documentary shows how far Adachi and his team will fight for the young man’s freedom while exposing black-crime bias in ostensibly liberal SF.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
SF Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jeff Adachi, Jim Choi
- Original Title
- Defender
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jeff Adachi, Jim Choi
Chihiro Wimbush
Department Leadership Roster
Jeff Adachi
Director
Chihiro Wimbush
Editor
Jim Choi
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Defender.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Defender
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Defender about?
Jeff Adachi is a public defender in San Francisco who takes on the misdemeanor case of 22-year-old Michael Smith, who pleaded not guilty in one of the first body camera cases in the city when he was charged with nine counts of resisting arrest. This urgent documentary shows how far Adachi and his team will fight for the young man’s freedom while exposing black-crime bias in ostensibly liberal SF.
Who directed Defender?
Defender was directed by Jeff Adachi, Jim Choi.
Who stars in Defender?
The principal cast of Defender includes Jeff Adachi.
When was Defender released and how long is it?
Defender was released in 2017 with a total runtime of 1h 10m.