Prime Minister, a new documentary directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, captures the remarkable journey of Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s former Prime Minister. With unprecedented access, the film offers an intimate and powerful portrait of Ardern’s time in office, from her unexpected rise in 2017 to her global recognition as a leader defined by empathy, strength, and humanity. The documentary traces pivotal moments such as the Christchurch mosque shootings, the COVID-19 pandemic, and her trailblazing role as a young mother and head of state.

The film made its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. It has since screened at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the Sydney Film Festival, and the Nantucket Film Festival. Prime Minister is set for a theatrical release in the United States on June 13, 2025.

Here is the synopsis:

In August 2017, in the lead-up to national elections, Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly became New Zealand’s opposition party leader. She had just turned 37. Two frenetic months later, she was Prime Minister. Just before the final vote was in, she discovered she was pregnant. She would become only the second head of state in history to give birth while in office.

Ardern quickly became one of the most recognizable leaders in the world. She drew global attention from people craving a sensitive and compassionate approach to the critical issues of our time. In private, she struggled with being a mother and proving herself to a public skeptical of women’s leadership. A series of crises – the Christchurch massacre, pandemic lockdowns, and disinformation-fueled protests outside Parliament – would test that leadership and the feminine touch she brought to it. She resigned from office in January 2023, shocking her supporters and critics alike.

Going behind the scenes of her administration and her private life, Prime Minister follows Jacinda for seven years as she is catapulted to the top of New Zealand politics, becomes a feminist political icon, resigns suddenly from office and continues to champion the fight against isolationism, fear, and the distortion of truth. Intimate home footage shot by her husband and audio interviews that Jacinda did while in office give us unparalleled access. Along with in-depth contemporaneous interviews, these form the emotional backbone of the story, giving viewers an unfiltered window into her years in power.

The world is at a perilous political crossroads. Trust in institutions, expertise, and liberal democracy itself are under dire strain. Which direction will we go? Prime Minister leaves viewers wondering what the world might be like with more Jacindas at the helm.

Speaking about the documentary in an interview with Sundance, co-director Lindsay Utz said, “Jacinda is an incredible storyteller with impeccable delivery and comic timing. It became clear early on that having her voice anchor us throughout the film was going to be important. We wanted the audience to feel as close to her as possible. At the same time, we wanted viewers to see the past unfold in a propulsive vérité style. Jacinda’s voice is looking back as events are moving rapidly forward. It was tricky to achieve a balance between the two. I hope we achieved it! We never wanted her interviews to play as a master interview. We wanted them to feel like thoughts and ideas flowing seamlessly in and out of the vérité.”

Critics have responded to the film warmly, with Sean P. Means of The Movie Cricket writing, “…directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz get extraordinary access and use it to create a fascinating, emotional portrait of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.”

Watch the official trailer for Prime Minister.