A secret new Elizabeth Holmes documentary stuns Telluride

A secretly screened documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes stunned audiences at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Festivalgoers were locked into a 650-seat theater with their phones secured, told only that the film ran nearly three hours, had never been shown publicly, and that its main creators would be present. The surprise premiere turned out to be a new documentary from co-directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, titled You Can See Everything.

The film captures Holmes and her husband, Billy Evans, during the 34 days before she reported to federal prison in May 2023 to begin an 11-year sentence for defrauding investors about her blood-testing technology. Holmes’s legal efforts since then have stalled. Her appeals to overturn the conviction and shorten the sentence were rejected in February of last year. She then filed a clemency petition with President Trump, which remains listed as pending, meaning it has been officially opened and is still under review.

According to the report, Fielder lived in the couple’s guest house during filming, and the level of access they granted is described as shocking. Part of the buzz also centers on an unnamed A-list actress who becomes involved in the story itself. A24 is set to release the film in October, with a trailer already available.

The Telluride screening was notable for its secrecy, a rarity for a festival known for high-profile premieres. Attendees had no prior knowledge of the film’s subject or title, adding to the surprise when Holmes and Evans appeared on screen. The documentary’s timing is also significant, as Holmes’s clemency request with the White House remains unresolved.

For a US technology audience, the story underscores the ongoing fallout from the Theranos scandal, which centered on claims about blood-testing technology that never worked as promised. Holmes’s case has become a cautionary tale about startup fraud, and this new film offers a rare, intimate look at her life immediately before incarceration. The involvement of Fielder, known for his comedic and often uncomfortable observational work, suggests a non-traditional approach to the true-crime genre.

A24’s October release will bring the documentary to a wider audience, likely reigniting public interest in Holmes’s story. The film’s existence was kept under wraps until the Telluride premiere, making it one of the festival’s best-kept secrets in years. As the clemency petition remains pending, the documentary may also add context to her ongoing legal saga.

More company and startup news from TechManNews.