Stephen T. Maing

Directing

Stephen T. Maing

Known for

Directing

Credits

9 titles

Stephen Maing is an Emmy-winning New York-based filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor known for observational, longitudinal documentaries about power and resistance. He co-directed UNION (2024), which won a Special Jury Award at Sundance, and directed, filmed, and edited Crime + Punishment (2018), which won a Sundance Special Jury Award, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary, and was Oscar-shortlisted. Other credits include High Tech, Low Life, The Surrender, Dirty Gold, and The Great Experiment. He is a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow, a United States Artists Fellow, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Known for

Local One poster
NR

An exploration into the first days of the strike at two Amazon warehouses in New York City.

Local One

2025

Union poster
7.7

Up against one of the most powerful companies on the planet, a group of Amazon workers embark on an unprecedented campaign to unionize their warehouse in Staten Island, New York.

Union

2024

High Tech, Low Life poster
7.5

HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE follows the journey of two of China’s first citizen reporters as they travel the country – chronicling underreported news and social issues stories. Armed with laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras they develop skills as independent one-man news stations while learning to navigate China’s evolving censorship regulations and avoiding the risk of political persecution. The film follows 57-year-old “Tiger Temple,” who earns the title of China’s first citizen reporter after he impulsively documents an unfolding murder and 27-year-old “Zola” who recognizes the opportunity to increase his fame and future prospects by reporting on sensitive news throughout China.

High Tech, Low Life

2012

The Surrender poster
2.0

In August 2010, Stephen Kim, a highly-regarded State Department intelligence analyst, was indicted under the Espionage Act for jeopardizing national security by allegedly divulging classified information to a reporter. Despite numerous officials in the State Department describing Kim's disclosure as nothing extraordinary, he faced 10 to 15 years in prison if convicted at trial. The Surrender intimately documents Stephen Kim's struggle to understand the events leading up to his prosecution as well as his last free days before prison.

The Surrender

2015

Crime + Punishment poster
7.2

Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.

Crime + Punishment

2018

The Great Experiment poster
NR

The Great Experiment is an ambitious cinematic time capsule of one of the most volatile and perplexing eras of American history; a project that serves as a historical document, non-fiction experiment and intimate observation of the changing state of American democracy and identity. A surprising time capsule of a nation grappling with its differences and diversity, and our experience and perceptions of conflict, survival and belonging.

The Great Experiment

2026

Behind the camera

Local One poster
NR

An exploration into the first days of the strike at two Amazon warehouses in New York City.

Local One

2025

Union poster
7.7

Up against one of the most powerful companies on the planet, a group of Amazon workers embark on an unprecedented campaign to unionize their warehouse in Staten Island, New York.

Union

2024

High Tech, Low Life poster
7.5

HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE follows the journey of two of China’s first citizen reporters as they travel the country – chronicling underreported news and social issues stories. Armed with laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras they develop skills as independent one-man news stations while learning to navigate China’s evolving censorship regulations and avoiding the risk of political persecution. The film follows 57-year-old “Tiger Temple,” who earns the title of China’s first citizen reporter after he impulsively documents an unfolding murder and 27-year-old “Zola” who recognizes the opportunity to increase his fame and future prospects by reporting on sensitive news throughout China.

High Tech, Low Life

2012

The Surrender poster
2.0

In August 2010, Stephen Kim, a highly-regarded State Department intelligence analyst, was indicted under the Espionage Act for jeopardizing national security by allegedly divulging classified information to a reporter. Despite numerous officials in the State Department describing Kim's disclosure as nothing extraordinary, he faced 10 to 15 years in prison if convicted at trial. The Surrender intimately documents Stephen Kim's struggle to understand the events leading up to his prosecution as well as his last free days before prison.

The Surrender

2015

Crime + Punishment poster
7.2

Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.

Crime + Punishment

2018

Crime + Punishment poster
7.2

Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.

Crime + Punishment

2018

The Great Experiment poster
NR

The Great Experiment is an ambitious cinematic time capsule of one of the most volatile and perplexing eras of American history; a project that serves as a historical document, non-fiction experiment and intimate observation of the changing state of American democracy and identity. A surprising time capsule of a nation grappling with its differences and diversity, and our experience and perceptions of conflict, survival and belonging.

The Great Experiment

2026

The Release poster
NR

In July 2015, former State Department intelligence analyst Stephen Kim was released after serving 11 months in federal prison. Once a rising star and leading expert on North Korea and nuclear disarmament, Kim fought the US government’s harsh prosecution for four years before pleading guilty to charges of mishandling classified information in violation of the Espionage Act. After losing his home, family, friends and career, Stephen recounts his time in prison and contemplates what to do with the beginning of the rest of his life. Filmed several months after Stephen’s return from prison, The Release is a follow-up to The Surrender.

The Release

2016

No artwork available
NR

From the start of the New York City mayoral race, Christine Quinn had it all: name recognition, an overflowing war chest and a seven-year record of accomplishment as City Council speaker. She was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s heir apparent, on track to become the city’s first female and first openly gay mayor. Then, a month before the primary on Sept. 10, she began to slide in the polls. This is the story of her collapse, as witnessed from within her campaign.

Hers To Lose

2013