Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Wins Oscar for Documentary

Kerr was an executive producer on the Oscar-winning short film "All the Empty Rooms"

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:19am

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has added another accolade to his resume - he is now an Oscar winner. Kerr served as an executive producer on the 35-minute documentary short "All the Empty Rooms", which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 2026 Academy Awards. The film tells the stories of families who have preserved the bedrooms of children killed in mass shootings.

Why it matters

Kerr has long been an outspoken advocate for tighter gun laws, using his platform as an NBA coach to speak out on issues of gun violence and school shootings. His involvement in this documentary project aligns with his public persona and activism around these issues.

The details

Kerr was approached about a year ago to be an executive producer on the project, which he said was a "no-brainer" given his passion for the cause. While he did not have a direct role in making the film, Kerr helped promote it and was "blown away" by the final product, which he says gives dignity to the families' stories without turning them into "politics or spectacle".

  • Kerr signed on as an executive producer about a year ago.
  • The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 2026 Academy Awards.

The players

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who has been an outspoken advocate for gun control and has used his platform to speak out on issues of gun violence and school shootings.

All the Empty Rooms

The 35-minute documentary short film that won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 2026 Academy Awards. The film tells the stories of families who have preserved the bedrooms of children killed in mass shootings.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't have anything to do with the making of the film, but I am very proud to be associated with it.”

— Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors Head Coach

“What mattered to me right away was how the film listens to families. It gives them room to speak about their children without exploiting their stories into politics or spectacle. There's a dignity in that choice, which is difficult to find in the way our country usually talks about gun violence.”

— Steve Kerr

The takeaway

Steve Kerr's Oscar win for the documentary "All the Empty Rooms" further solidifies his reputation as one of the most socially conscious and outspoken figures in professional sports. His involvement in this project aligns with his long-standing advocacy for gun control and his desire to give a platform to the stories of families impacted by gun violence.