About the Director

Maryland-based filmmaker R. Todd Stevens directed, produced, cinematographed, and edited the documentary Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy, inspired by driving past the dilapidated hospital buildings. Stevens felt the hospital's story needed to be told and aimed to capture its ambiance through a five-year research and production process that utilized archival footage and original music, calling the film his greatest life achievement. The film has received multiple honors, primarily in 2018, including a Diamond Award for Best Feature Film and an Award of Merit for Documentary Feature.

Director’s Statement

Director R. Todd Stevens described the film "Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy" as a story that needed telling, aiming to provide a historical snapshot of the 500-acre facility over its 96-year history. He viewed the five-year production as his greatest achievement and sought to capture the ambiance of the site, inspired by classic documentaries

Awards & Recognition

• Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (CICFF): Winner of the CICFF Award for Experimental Films.

• Hollywood Film Competition: Recipient of the Diamond Award for Best Feature Film and the Silver Award for Best Documentary.

• Impact DOCS Awards: Winner of the Award of Merit for Documentary Feature.

• NYC Indie Film Awards: Recognized as a winner (Best Documentary Feature).

• Queen City Film Festival (QCFF): Selected as an official screening and noted for its status as an award-winning film.