Debra Eisenstadt is an American writer, director, producer and editor.

Career

Eisenstadt began her career as an actress, most notably starring in the theater and film versions of

David Mamet David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, filmmaker, and author. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and '' Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first gained cri ...

’s '' Oleanna'' opposite

William H. Macy William Hall Macy Jr. (born March 13, 1950) is an American actor. His film career has been built on appearances in small, independent films, though he has also appeared in mainstream films. Some of his best known starring roles include those i ...

. Eisenstadt wrote, produced, directed, shot and edited the feature film ''

Daydream Believer "Daydream Believer" is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. It was originally recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. ''Billboard ...

'', winner of an

Independent Spirit Award The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glas ...

and The Grand Jury Prize at the

Slamdance Film Festival The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. The annual week-long festival takes place in Park City, Utah, in late January and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization, which als ...

. Similarly, she helmed three other independent features: the award-winning films '' The Limbo Room'' (with

Melissa Leo Melissa Chessington Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Critics' Choice A ...

Peter Dinklage Peter Hayden Dinklage (; born June 11, 1969) is an American film, television and stage actor. He received international recognition for portraying Tyrion Lannister on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which he ...

), '' Before the Sun Explodes'', and ''Blush'' starring Wendi McLendon-Covey. Eisenstadt has written and directed for Nickelodeon and works as a script doctor and a teacher. She Executive Produced the acclaimed documentaries (directed by Brett Morgen) Moonage Daydream (2022)'' Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck'' and '' Jane'', the award-winning 2017 documentary about Jane Goodall. Eisenstadt wrote and directed the 2019 film '' Imaginary Order'' which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival''.

Personal life

Eisenstadt is married to director

Brett Morgen Brett D. Morgen (born October 11, 1968) is an American documentary filmmaker. His directorial credits include ''The Kid Stays in the Picture'' (2002), '' Crossfire Hurricane'' (2012), '' Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck'' (2015), ''Jane'' (2017), an ...

. She graduated from

Bennington College Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont. Founded in 1932 as a women's college, it became co-educational in 1969. It claims to be the first college to include visual and performing arts as an equal partner in ...

in 1991 and received a master's degree in Film/Media Studies from

New School University The New School is a private research university in New York City. It was founded in 1919 as The New School for Social Research with an original mission dedicated to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry and a home for progressive thinkers. ...

in 2000.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Eisenstadt, Debra Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people) American film directors American women film directors American women screenwriters 21st-century American women