The First Wave

When Covid-19 hit New York City in 2020, filmmaker Matthew Heineman gained unique access to one of New York’s hardest-hit hospital systems. The resulting film focuses on the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” from March to June 2020. Their distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm to understand how the city persevered through the worst pandemic in a century

• Matthew HeinemanDirector
• H. Scott SalinasOriginal Music Composer
• Jon BatisteOriginal Music Composer

• Nathalie DougéSelf
• Alexis EllisSelf - Ahmed's Wife
• Kellie WunschSelf
• Brussels JabonSelf
• Naph JabonSelf - Brussels' Husband
• Athens GarroteSelf - Brussels' Sister
• Andrew CuomoSelf (archive footage)
• Michael DowlingSelf
• Al SharptonSelf (archive footage)
• Karl ArabianSelf