Documentary Style
NarrativeARMED ONLY WITH A CAMERA: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BRENT RENAUD
The first American journalist killed in Ukraine, honored through his own footage. A powerful exploration of why frontline journalism matters and the ultimate sacrifice some make for truth.
Year
2025
Type
short
Runtime
36 min
Language
English
Director
Brent Renaud, Craig Renaud
Genres
Summary
On March 13, 2022, documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud became the first American journalist killed covering Ukraine, shot by Russian soldiers while filming refugees.
His brother Craig completes Brent's final assignment, weaving Ukraine footage with retrospective spanning Iraq, Haiti, Somalia, and Chicago. What emerges is the vérité approach the Renauds practiced: getting close to people in conflict, giving them voice. Through Brent's own work and testimonies from those he filmed, the film reveals why this dangerous work matters - when we lose a journalist, we lose what holds democracy together. The film shows Brent's compassion, his commitment to humanizing people in crisis, and the ultimate price of bearing witness.
What the world loses when truth-tellers fall silent.