Emily Kunstler

Sarah Kunstler
Emily Kunstler in 2008
Born (1978-06-24) June 24, 1978 (age 46)
CitizenshipUnited States of America
Alma materTisch NYU
Occupation(s)
film director and producer
Years active2003-present
Parents
RelativesSarah Kunstler

Emily Kunstler (born June 24, 1978) is an American documentary filmmaker and activist.[1] Her documentaries have won awards at South by Southwest and have been featured at Sundance.[2][3] Kunstler is the daughter of lawyer William Kunstler, famous for his historic civil rights cases and Margaret Ratner Kunstler, a prominent New York human rights attorney.[4][5]

Career

In 2000, Kunstler co-founded Off Center Media with her sister Sarah Kunstler with the goal of exposing injustice in the criminal justice system through media creation.[6]

In 2003, the sisters directed their short Tulia, Texas: Scenes from the Drug War. [7] The film focused on the unlawful arrest and imprisonment of more than 10% of the black population of Tulia, Texas in 1999.[8][7] The film won Best Short Documentary at the Woodstock Film Festival (2002) [9]and her film Getting Through to the President won the Jury Prize at the Black Maria Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award at the Portland International Short Short Film Festival (2004).[10]

In 2009, Kunstler and her sister released a feature length documentary about their father entitled William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe that screened at the Sundance Film Festival.[11] The film was a co-production of the Independent Television Service and aired on the PBS series P.O.V.. The film was nominated for the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival[3] and was among 15 films shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the 83rd Academy Awards in 2010.[12][13]

In 2021 Kunstler completed Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America with her sister co-directing.[14][15] It premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival [16] and won the Audience Award in the Documentary Spotlight Category.[17] The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics[18] and theatrically released January 14, 2022.

Personal Life

Kunstler grew up in New York City's West Village neighborhood.

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Stevenson, Peter (June 2010). "Life with Father". The New Yorker. 86 (18): 21. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  2. ^ "Audience Awards Winners for the 2021 SXSW Film Festival". SXSW. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  3. ^ a b "2009 Sundance Film Festival announces films in competition. Festival celebrates 25 years of independent filmmaking and cinematic storytelling". Sundance Institute. 2008-12-03. Archived from the original on 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  4. ^ "Top Rated New York, NY Civil Rights Attorney - Margaret Kunstler". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  5. ^ Stevenson, Peter (June 2010). "Life with Father". The New Yorker. 86 (18): 21. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  6. ^ "Off Center Media". Off Center Media. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  7. ^ a b Indiewire (2009-11-11). "Emily & Sarah Kunstler: "This is a film about legacy"". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  8. ^ American Civil Liberties Union. "Racist arrests in Tulia, Texas". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  9. ^ Indiewire (September 29, 2003). "Woodstock Fest Provokes and Entertains Again In Year Four". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  10. ^ "Off Center Awards". Off Center Media. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  11. ^ "Emily & Sarah Kunstler, "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe": Family, Legacy & Social Justice". IndieWire. 12 January 2009.
  12. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (2010-11-18). "The Biggest Surprise Of The Oscar Documentary Shortlist Are The Snubs". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Knegt, Peter (2010-11-18). "Academy Announces Characteristically Controversial Documentary Feature Shortlist". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  14. ^ Byrd, Chris (May 14, 2022). "Vital, challenging film tackles America's original sin". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  15. ^ Huver, Scott (2021-11-21). "In 'Who We Are', Jeffery Robinson Deconstructs America's Enduring But Increasingly Challenged Myths About Race & Equality – Contenders Documentary". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  16. ^ "2021 SXSW Film Festival Lineup Announced: Features, Shorts, Episodics & More". SXSW. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  17. ^ "Audience Awards Winners for the 2021 SXSW Film Festival". SXSW. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  18. ^ Sony. "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Worldwide Rights to 'Who We Are' 2021 SXSW Audience Award Winner".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)