It's hard not to imagine all the possibilities of what could have been had Aaron Swartz not tragically ended his own life at 26.
Swartz, a lead developer of the web feed format RSS and social news site Reddit, was well on his way towards the type of accolades reserved only for the most influential in history when he decided to abandon the start-up world and instead dedicate his skills to online activism.
Unfortunately, we know from the start of The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, director Brian Knappenberger's soulful new documentary, that this tale doesn't end with its title character immortalized on a postage stamp. Instead it outlines how Swartz went from computer prodigy with a higher calling to public enemy number one facing 35 years in prison and a $1 million fine. However, at its core, The Internet's Own Boy is a moving portrait of reinvention and self-discovery.
SF Weekly caught up with up director Brian Knappenberger to discuss activism, hacktivism and the legacy of Aaron Swartz.