Director Boots Riley discusses his film Sorry to Bother You with writer and producer Courtney Lilly. In the film, Oakland resident Cassius Green (Lakieth Stanfield), overwhelmed by back rent and a nagging uncle, is in desperate need of a job. He finds a steady paycheck and unexpected success as a telemarketer, eventually getting promoted to an elite role selling a morally questionable service. This satirical, absurdist, genre-bending film takes a truly fresh look at the intersections of ethics, race, class, and art, creating a uniquely relevant snapshot of our current moment. An incendiary calling card from director Boots Riley, Sorry to Bother You is as intellectually bold as it is stylistically ambitious. The conversation was part of MoMA Contenders, The Museum of Modern Art’s renowned series of influential, innovative films from the past 12 months. Whether bound for awards glory or cult classic status, each of these films is a contender for lasting historical significance.