Latasha M. Ford with Awards Buzz recently caught up with director Rachel Lee Goldenberg to discuss her film, “Swiped.” During their lively conversation, Goldenberg shared in-depth insights into the project’s development and her professional philosophy as it relates to the film. Rachel delved into the conversation, highlighting several topics: her inspiration and relatability to the project, her directorial creative approach, her extensive research journey, and her future projects.
Goldenberg was drawn to the protagonist Whitney’s journey of navigating a male-dominated industry while dealing with complex issues of morality and victimhood. She found it inspiring how Whitney transformed traumatic experiences into professional success. The project took five years to complete. Due to legal constraints preventing direct contact with Whitney, the team relied on publicly available materials and court documents, even using evidence from transcripts as actual dialogue to ensure accuracy. Research continued through the post-production phase. Goldenberg shares the heavy emotional weight she felt while telling a person’s real-life story while maintaining balance in Hollywood. Lastly, delving into three current projects she’s currently developing based on true stories about women. This includes an upcoming project at Universal titled The Six, which focuses on NASA’s first class of female astronauts in 1980.
Full Interview Below:
About “Swiped”
Inspired by the provocative real-life story of the visionary founder of Bumble, “Swiped” follows recent college grad Whitney Wolfe (played by Lily James) as she uses extraordinary grit and ingenuity to break into the male-dominated tech industry. The film depicts her journey launching two innovative, globally lauded dating apps, ultimately paving the way for her to become the youngest female self-made billionaire. Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, the film features a screenplay by Bill Parker, Rachel Lee Goldenberg, and Kim Caramele. The production was led by Jennifer Gibgot, Andrew Panay, and Lily James. In addition to Lily James, the ensemble cast includes Jackson White, Myha’la, Ben Schnetzer, Pierson Fodé, Clea DuVall, Pedro Correa, Ian Colleti, Coral Peña, and Dan Stevens.
For those who have yet to check out this modern-day success story, “Swiped” had its initial premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9, 2025. Following its festival run, the film was released worldwide on Friday, September 19, 2025, and is currently available to stream on Hulu.
Watch Official Trailer:
