Wordplay (2006)

Producer: Christine O’Malley
Director: Patrick Creadon

A profile of New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz, Wordplay premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was quickly acquired by IFC Films and The Weinstein Company after an intense bidding war. Wordplay went on to become one of the top 25 highest grossing documentaries of all time and was named Best Reviewed Documentary of the Year by Rottentomatoes.com. “The Simpsons” episode “Lisa and Homer Cross Words” paid tribute to Wordplay and featured the voices of Will Shortz and crossword constructor Merl Reagle.