Stefan Schaefer

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Stefan Schaefer (born August 17, 1971) is an American writer, director and producer of independent films.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early Life & Education

Schaefer was born in Boston, spent his childhood in Sussex, England and his adolescent years in Detroit and New York. He studied acting and political theory at Skidmore College and Wesleyan University, from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Following a year and a half in Germany--where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar at Christian-Albrechts University--he returned to New York and co-founded the production company Cicala Filmworks.[1]

He is the maternal grandson of polar explorer and ornithologist Carl R. Eklund.

[edit] Career

Schaefer's debut feature film, Confess, premiered at the 2005 Hamptons International Film Festival, where he won the Best Screenwriter award. The political thriller stars Eugene Byrd, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Melissa Leo, Ali Larter, William Sadler and Glenn Fitzgerald.

In 2006 he directed and produced the one-hour television documentary Contested Streets, which looks at what New York can learn from London, Paris and Copenhagen in terms of organizing its streets and public spaces. Produced together with Transportation Alternatives and Lime Wire founder Mark Gorton, the film screened widely at international environmental film festivals and aired as part of "The Green" series on the Sundance Channel.

In 2007 he wrote, co-directed and produced Arranged, his second feature film, starring Zoe Lister-Jones, Francis Benhamou, Marcia Jean Kurtz, John Rothman, Mimi Lieber and Daniel London. The film premiered at the 2007 South by Southwest Film Festival, won top prizes at The Berkshire International Film Festival, The Brooklyn International Film Festival, The Washington Jewish Film Festival, Skip City International D-Cinema Festival, among others, and was picked up for distribution by New York-based Film Movement. Handled by Visit Films internationally, the film has had successful theatrical and cable runs in over 40 territories. It had its US cable premiere on the Sundance Channel in September, 2009.

Schaefer also collaborated as a writer, producer and actor on the film The Higher Force, directed by Icelandic filmmaker Olaf de Fleur Johannesson and starring Michael Imperioli. The film shot in Reykjavík, Iceland in April and May 2007, and played at festivals such as AFI Fest and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Another collaboration with Olaf de Fleur is The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, which world premiered at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival, winning the TEDDY Award for Best Feature Film.

In 2008 he and his partner at Cicala Filmworks, Diane Crespo, produced Michael Imperioli's debut feature as a writer and director. The film, entitled The Hungry Ghosts stars Steven Schirripa, Aunjanue Ellis, Nick Sandow, Sharon Angela and newcomer Emory Cohen. The film world premiered as the opening night film at the 2009 International Film Festival Rotterdam, screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and is distributed by Virgil Films and Entertainment.

May 2009 saw the launch of the original web series Circledrawers, another collaboration with Olaf de Fleur. The nine-episode series about low-life angels trying desperately to be reborn as humans is distributed via BlipTV, iTunes and YouTube, and stars Logan Huffman, Steven Schirripa, Sharon Angela, Ashley Springer, and Hilmir Snær Guðnason.

In April-May 2010 Schaefer produced Brian Kohne's Maui-set comedy "Get A Job", starring Hawaiian entertainers such as Willie Kahaiali’i (a.k.a.Willie K.), Eric Gilliom, Augie T, Henry Kapono, and music legends Willie Nelson, Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, and Mick Fleetwood. In July and August he directed the Brooklyn-set romance "My Last Day Without You", starring Ken Duken, Nicole Beharie, Reg E. Cathey, Marlene Forte, and Laith Nakli. Written with Christoph Silber, and produced with Silber and Diane Crespo, the film features songs composed by Scott Jacoby (producer). Another Silber-Schaefer project realized in 2011 is the German-language First Lady, produced for ARD and teamWorx head Nico Hoffmann.

Schaefer and his family split their time between Park Slope, Brooklyn and Haiku, Maui. He was a founding parent and Board President of the Brooklyn Waldorf School. He is an active member of the Writers Guild of America, East.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Awards & Nominations

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cicala Filmworks, http://www.cicalafilmworks.com/, retrieved 2011-03-22 

^ Miller, B (2007-12-14). "Break On Through To The Other Side". http://www.nysun.com/arts/break-on-through-to-the-other-side/68087/. 

^ Scheib, R (2007-12-13). "Arranged Film Review". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935647.html. 

^ Mack, R (2009-06-10). "Angels Walk Amongst Us in Web-Series 'Circledrawers'". http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/angels-walk-amongst-us-in-web-series-circledrawers/. 

^ Weinburg, S (2007-03). "SxSW '07 Interview "Arranged" Directors Stefan Schaefer & Diane Crespo". http://efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=2087/. 

^ Chatenlever, Rick (2010-04). "Get A Job in the movie biz"". http://www.mauinews.com/page/blogs.detail/display/2226.html/. 

^ "Cameras Set To Roll on US-German Romance My Last Day Without You"". 2010-06-22. http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/cameras-set-to-roll-on-us-german-romance-my-last-day-without-you/5015319.article. 

[edit] External links

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