A documentary chronicling the controversial 2023 law-enforcement raid on the Marion County Record, and the death of its 98-year-old co-owner, will premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, bringing renewed national and international attention to issues of press freedom, government overreach, and the First Amendment.
Titled "Seized", the film is directed and produced by Sharon Liese, whose prior work includes "Parker", which screened at Sundance in 2023. The documentary examines the August 2023 raid on the Marion County Record newsroom and the home of co-owner Joan Meyer, an event that sparked global condemnation from journalism organizations, civil-liberties advocates, and elected officials.
The raid, carried out by local law enforcement, resulted in the seizure of computers, phones, and reporting materials from the newspaper. Days later, Meyer, who had co-owned and operated the paper for decades, died. Her death, combined with the unprecedented nature of the raid, intensified scrutiny of the actions taken by authorities and their implications for constitutional protections of a free press.
According to Sundance programmers, Seized was selected as one of 151 projects to screen at the 2026 festival. The film situates the Marion case within a broader national context, exploring how tensions between local power structures and independent journalism can escalate, particularly during periods of political volatility. Through interviews, archival footage, and multiple perspectives, the documentary allows viewers to draw their own conclusions about ethics, accountability, and democratic norms.
Since the raid, the police chief who authorized the action has resigned and been charged with interference with the judicial process. Marion County has also agreed to a $3 million settlement resolving portions of the resulting litigation.
With its Sundance premiere, Seized is expected to further fuel discussion about the role of local journalism, the limits of law-enforcement authority, and the enduring importance of constitutional safeguards—using a small Kansas newsroom as a powerful lens on issues resonating far beyond state lines.