Christina Elmore is set to lead a bold new indie feature as the star of Zugzwang, a genre-bending detective story that marks the feature directorial debut of Emmy-winning filmmaker Bridget Stokes.
Zugzwang follows Lady (Elmore), a private detective pushed to the edge of survival as she takes on a dangerous case in pursuit of personal redemption. What begins as a straightforward investigation quickly unravels, pulling her into an expanding underworld of corruption where every choice carries consequences. Blending fantasy and noir, the film explores power, agency, and the cost of confronting the parts of oneself long buried in order to endure.
Elmore is joined by an ensemble cast that includes Angel Laketa Moore, Hannah Love Lanier, and Kathreen Khavari.
Zugzwang represents a significant next chapter for Stokes, who made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to win an Emmy for directing a variety series for HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show. With this project, Stokes both writes and directs, expanding her storytelling into a feature-length narrative that centers a complex woman navigating moral ambiguity and personal consequence.
The film is fiscally sponsored by Film Independent and produced by Erin Owens and Lauri Levenfeld. Behind the camera, Stokes has assembled an experienced creative team, including casting director Erica A. Hart, composer Maejor, production designers Michele Yu and Cindy Chao, editor Veronica Rutledge, post producer Kaitlyn Yang, and cinematographer Kevin Atkinson. Atkinson’s recent work includes a project debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, underscoring the film’s alignment with the indie circuit.
As Zugzwang moves into its next phase of development, Stokes and the producing team are set to head to Park City to connect with potential distributors and partners. With Elmore at the center and a director stepping into her feature era with a clear voice and vision, the project positions itself as a noir-leaning thriller rooted in character, consequence, and agency.