Armed only with a camera: the life and death of Brent Renaud
cinematographer • Hbo (a film by the Renaud brothers)
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud" is an intimate film about documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud, the first American journalist killed in Ukraine. Brent captured many wars on the front lines, but he cared most about the people caught in the middle. On March 13, 2022, Brent was gunned down by Russian soldiers. His younger brother Craig Renaud recovered Brent’s body and his final recordings from Ukraine, and brought them home to Arkansas. Brent’s journey home also serves as a window into what drove him as a journalist, and how he viewed the world through his lens. This film is dedicated to Brent and all the journalists who use their cameras to fight for peace.
official selection
SXSW Official Selection (2025); Audience Award Best Short Documentary
Press
SXSW 2025 Audience Award Winners (DEADLINE) Brent Renaud Remembered by Craig Renaud (TIME)
Remembering Brent Renaud: A Reluctant Hero of Humanity (International Documentary Association)
Brent Renaud, Crusading Filmmaker, Is Killed at 50 (New York Times)
DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema Honors Documentary Filmmaker Brent Renaud (DEADLINE)
