attend the meeting. Laurel speaks briefly to news reporters and receives a standing ovation from the people present, including the Freeholders. Laurel goes home to die and the final scene of the film shows her memorial service, attended by Stacie, Dane and her police colleagues. Nine months after her death, the New Jersey Supreme Court rules that same sex couples must have the same rights as heterosexual couples, forcing the state legislature to legalise civil unions in New Jersey. People featured Laurel Hester Stacie Andree, Hester's domestic partner Don Bennett, staff reporter for the Ocean County Observer Margaret Bonafide, staff reporter for the Asbury Park Press Dick Chinery, former New Jersey police chief Dane Wells, Hester's first police partner Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair Coleen Markey Tosh, LCSW, Hospice Social Worker The Freeholders of Ocean County declined to be interviewed for the film. Release and reception Freeheld premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Prize. It was an official selection at many US and international film festivals, winning awards including the Boston Independent Festival Audience Award and the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Outfest LGBT Film Festival. A the 80th Academy Awards in 2008, Freeheld won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject). It was released theatrically at selected cinemas across the United States in 2007 and had its US broadcast premiere on Cinemax in June 2008. Awards and nominations Film adaptation In May 2010, it was announced that Endgame Entertainment was developing a drama based on the documentary. It was released in 2015 with a script by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Peter Sollett. Julianne Moore and Elliot Page play Laurel and Stacie. Steve Carell plays Steven Goldstein. References External links 2007 films American short documentary films American LGBT-related short films Documentary films about cancer Documentary films about lesbians Best Documentary Short Subject Academy Award winners 2000s short documentary films Films set in New Jersey 2007 LGBT-related films Films shot in New Jersey Women in New Jersey 2000s English-language films 2000s American films