A new documentary titled “Carl Sagan: We are Made of Star Stuff” premiered at the 2026 Telluride Film Festival, which took place from September 4 to 7. Directed by Nanette Burstein, known for her biopics including one on Hillary Clinton, the film explores both Sagan’s professional achievements and his personal life, covering his childhood, marriages, and battle with illness.
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Burstein received significant input from Sagan’s last wife, Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on the Voyager golden records and the acclaimed PBS series “Cosmos.” Druyan features prominently in the film, alongside interviews with family members, space artist Jon Lomberg, and colleagues from Sagan’s scientific career.
Sagan is celebrated for his contributions to science, popularizing science among the public, and his philosophical insights regarding the intersection of science and political culture. However, the film’s heavy focus on his personal life arguably detracts from a deeper exploration of his professional legacy. Notably absent are significant events from Sagan’s early career, including his controversial tenure at Harvard and his influential collaboration with Russian astronomer I.S. Shklovskii on the seminal work “Intelligent Life in the Universe” in the 1960s.
The documentary also underplays Sagan’s scientific research, particularly his influential role in shaping NASA missions and addressing science-related political concerns such as nuclear winter. His impact as a university professor and mentor to many future leading planetary scientists is scarcely acknowledged.
Additionally, the film overlooks Sagan’s later work on asteroid impact hazards and his debates with figures like Edward Teller. Although it briefly references his penultimate book, “The Demon-Haunted World,” his notable skepticism and contributions to planetary science—like his role as editor of the journal “Icarus” and co-founding the Planetary Society—are largely omitted.
Despite these shortcomings, the film effectively captures Sagan’s efforts to communicate space science to the public, accompanied by stunning visuals. Clark R. Chapman, a retired senior scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, highlights that Sagan’s blend of science and public engagement merits a comprehensive cinematic treatment.