Sam Feder is a highly acclaimed film director, whose illustrious career has been marked by a prestigious Peabody Award nomination, a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication to his craft.
As recognized by the esteemed publication Indiewire, Feder is counted among the most thrilling and innovative trans filmmakers currently making waves in the Hollywood landscape, whose cinematic endeavors boldly explore the complex and multifaceted intersections of visibility, politics, and social constructs such as race, class, and gender.
Feder's filmmaking approach is characterized by a profound commitment to inclusion and equity within the industry, a dedication that is reflected in his work and has earned him widespread recognition and respect within the film community.
Feder's cinematic creations have been showcased at numerous prestigious film festivals globally, including but not limited to the Sundance Film Festival, a renowned platform for emerging talent, the Tribeca Film Festival, a celebration of innovative storytelling, CPH:DOX, a leading documentary festival in Europe, MOMA PS-1, a pioneering institution dedicated to contemporary art and film, The British Film Institute, a revered organization committed to the preservation and celebration of cinema, and The Hammer Museum, a cultural hub in Los Angeles.
One of his most notable works is the Netflix Original Documentary, DISCLOSURE, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. This groundbreaking and thought-provoking film offers a penetrating examination of transgender representations in film and television.
Kate Bornstein is a queer and pleasant danger, a poignant portrait of the renowned trans icon Kate Bornstein, which received widespread critical acclaim, being recognized as one of the best documentaries of 2014 by The Advocate, a prestigious publication catering to the LGBTQ+ community.
This remarkable documentary not only garnered numerous accolades but also won the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism, a testament to its thought-provoking and impactful storytelling. The film's success was further solidified by its multiple best feature film awards, a testament to its exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
Feder's work, the mastermind behind this groundbreaking documentary, has been generously supported by a diverse range of organizations, each committed to fostering innovative and socially conscious storytelling. These organizations include Ford/JustFilms, a joint initiative between the Ford Foundation and JustFilms, Fork Films, a production company dedicated to telling underrepresented stories, California Humanities, a non-profit dedicated to preserving and promoting California's rich cultural heritage, The Jerome Foundation, a pioneering organization supporting emerging artists, Perspective Fund, a philanthropic organization focused on promoting social justice and human rights, Threshold, a non-profit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ rights, IFP Film Week, a premier industry event showcasing independent films, Good Pitch USA/Doc Society, a collaborative initiative supporting documentary filmmakers, MacDowell Colony, a renowned artist residency program, and Yaddo artist residency, a historic retreat for artists seeking inspiration and creative growth.
