judy lieff

Introduction (2-3 lines)

judy lieff is a filmmaker and educator teaching at Montclair State University and SUNY Purchase. Deaf Jam, her first feature documentary, premiered on the PBS series, Independent Lens, and was selected to participate in the American Film Showcase (AFS) - a partnership between the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Most recently, Judy completed an MA degree from NYU in Immersive Media.

Judy Lieff is a filmmaker and educator with a background in dance and experimental film. She was awarded a finishing grant from ITVS (the Independent Television Service) for Deaf Jam. The film was selected to participate in the 2013/2014 season of the American Film Showcase (AFS) - a state department initiative in sponsorship with USC's Cinema Arts Department. Judy is on faculty at SUNY Purchase teaching a production lab on the intersections of film and choreography, and also at Montclair State University teaching Transmedia Projects and Unscripted Film. Judy earned her M.F.A. in interdisciplinary studies from CalArts, following a career as a professional dancer. Her credits include envoy for the American Film Showcase; Dance On Camera residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts; National Dance/Media fellowship from the Pew Charitable Trusts; multiple grants for media projects with youth; years of experience working in production and post-production on commercials, industrials, shorts, and EPKs for feature films. Judy also worked as a motion capture performer/choreographer, and as a stop-motion performer/choreographer on projects including Terry Gilliam’s "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and Pat O’Neil’s "The Decay of Fiction." Judy recently earned a MA degree from NYU's Immersive Media Arts Program.

New Day Films by judy lieff

Awards & Accolades

The Japan Prize – NHK Broadcasting, Tokyo
Best Documentary – The Greater Reading Film Festival, PA; Greenpoint Film Festival, NY
Best of Festival – The 1st Irish Deaf Film Festival, Dublin
Emerging Filmmaker Award – Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
Official Selection - Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, Greece
Official Selection - Woodstock Film Festival and Mill Valley Film Festival,
Official Selection - New York Jewish Film Festival @ Lincoln Center
Official Selection - Starz Denver Film Festival
Official Selection - EIDF (EBS International Doc FF), Seoul, Korea
Official Selection - Aktion-Mensch Film Festival & 40 City Tour - Germany
Official Selection - American Film Showcase
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