Sierra Ditson Moselle, also known as Crystal Moselle, is a renowned American filmmaker, celebrated for her groundbreaking debut film, The Wolfpack, a documentary that explores the extraordinary lives of the Angulo brothers.
Born on August 1, 1980, in San Francisco, Moselle grew up in Mill Valley, California, graduating from Tamalpais High School in 1998. She later attended the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she honed her filmmaking skills.
In 2010, Moselle's life took an unexpected turn when she stumbled upon six brothers with an unusual appearance while walking around New York City. Intrigued by their unique story, she began bonding with them over their shared love of movies and eventually started filming their lives. After a year of documenting their daily routines, Moselle discovered that the brothers had spent most of their lives confined to a small four-bedroom apartment due to their abusive father's crippling paranoia about the outside world.
Moselle's documentary, The Wolfpack, was completed in 2015 and premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Documentary Grand Jury Prize. The film's success was a testament to Moselle's exceptional storytelling abilities and her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships.
In 2016, Moselle was approached by Miu Miu to direct a short film for their Women's Tales series, which featured female directors creating short films that showcased Miu Miu clothing. Moselle chose to collaborate with a group of teenage skater girls she had met in a park, and her short film, That One Day, premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival.
Building on her success with That One Day, Moselle returned to the world of skate culture for her 2018 feature film, Skate Kitchen. The film, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, follows a group of young female skateboarders as they navigate the male-dominated world of skateboarding. Moselle's use of many of the same actors from That One Day added a sense of continuity and cohesion to her storytelling.
Throughout her career, Moselle has demonstrated a unique ability to capture the essence of her subjects and to tell stories that are both personal and universal. Her dedication to her craft and her passion for storytelling have earned her a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative filmmakers of her generation.
