Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net

Directed By Dawn Porter

Follows the resurgence of Cirque du Soleil after the most difficult period in its history.

  • ABOUT
  • BIO
  • SCREENINGS
As Cirque du Soleil reboots its flagship production, O, more than a year after an abrupt shutdown, performers and crew members face uncertainty as they work to return to their world-class standards in time for the (re)opening night in Las Vegas. With unfettered access, filmmaker Dawn Porter captures the dramatic journey of the world’s most famous circus act on its way back from the brink.
Award-winning, acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter has emerged in the entertainment industry as a leader in the art of storytelling; directing and producing critically acclaimed projects that have impacted generations of people from all walks of life. As a two-time Sundance film festival director, Porter’s work has been featured on HBO, Netflix, CNN, PBS, MSNBC, MTV Films, and other platforms. She has been recognized with career achievement awards from the Hamptons and Mill Valley Film Festivals, is the recipient of the 2022 Critics Choice Documentary Awards “Impact Award,” and an honoree at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Awards. In 2022 Porter’s work was highlighted in ESPN’s monumental initiative entitled Fifty/50 which follows the civil rights journey of women across the sports and cultural landscape. The initiative commemorates the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institution that receives federal funding and gave women the equal opportunity to play. Porter co-directed “37 Words” with Oscar® nominee Nicole Newnham. “37 Words” is a four-part documentary series charting the spectacular transformation that 37 words have inspired in American culture and the lives of women. “37 Words” premiered June 21 (Parts 1 & 2) and June 28th (Parts 3 & 4) on ESPN.