EDITOR / ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHER

"Aaron Wickenden is the best editor I’ve ever worked with in documentary. But on this Ali project, he’s become more than an editor. He’s a full-on collaborator, contributing research finds, camera skills on interviews, ideas for musical score and composers and made huge contributions to the story development of the film. To say that his impact is instrumental is an understatement. And with all that said, my favorite part of working with Aaron is the pure joy of working with such a careful, insightful, creative, warm soul. His passion for lifelong learning makes him a wonder to be around." - Bill Siegel, Director "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" / Co-Director "The Weather Underground"

The Trials of Muhammad Ali covers the explosive crossroads of Ali’s life. When Cassius Clay becomes Muhammad Ali, his conversion to Islam and refusal to serve in the Vietnam War leave him banned from boxing and facing a five-year prison sentence. Ali’s choice of belief and conscience over fame and fortune resonates far beyond the boxing ring, striking issues of race, faith and identity that continue to confront us all today.

DISTINCTIONS:

- EMMY AWARD for Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form

- EMMY NOMINATION for BEST DOCUMENTARY

- EMMY NOMINATION for Aaron Wickenden for BEST EDITING.

- NAACP IMAGE AWARD: Outstanding Independent Motion Picture (nominated)

- International Documentary Association ABCNews Award for Best Use of Archival Footage

- FOCAL International Awards: Best Use of Sports Footage

- Black Reel Awards: Outstanding Documentary (nominated)

- World Premier at the Tribeca Film Festival and International Premiere at IDFA

PRAISE:

"Richly textured and exhaustively researched...fresh clips and new voices that make Ali come alive... a gift." — Sports Illustrated

"Complex and involving... gripping." — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"Magnificently concise... makes you feel [Ali's] radicalism all over again." — Wesley Morris, Grantland

"May very well be the best sports documentary so far this decade. Carries within each frame a sense of vitality and power that is rarely seen in a documentary of this ilk... Sports fans take notice, your favorite film of the year may have just arrived." — Joshua Brunsting, Criterioncast

"Masterful... so engrossing it can't help but pull you in... one of the best documentary experiences of the entire year." — David Voigt, Examiner.com

"The best Muhammad Ali doc I've ever seen and - dare I say - I've seen 'em all." — Dave Zirin, The Nation.