American producer to hold workshop in Baku

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

American documentary film director, producer and editor Lisa Leeman arrived in Azerbaijan.

Leeman, who is a frequent moderator and panelist at filmmaking events, will stay in Azerbaijan until February 13, Report.az informed.

Her visit organized as part of the U.S. Department of State’s American Film Showcase Program.

Lisa Leeman will conduct a week long documentary filmmaking workshop for students majoring in filmmaking studies at Azerbaijan University of Culture and Arts and a "Career Building in Filmmaking" seminar at the Azerbaijan Fine Arts Academy.

Moreover, the American director will meet with and provide individual, as well as group consultations to local filmmakers.

AlthoughLeeman’s film trainings at universities are for students only, she will also lead workshops and events that are free and open to the public.

Lisa Leeman believes that strong narrative and character-driven films can change the world.

She has produced, directed, written & edited award-winning feature & short documentaries for the last twenty-five years. Calling her films ‘sideways social- issue films,’ she specializes in illuminating contemporary social issues through character-driven stories that follow people at critical turning points in their lives.  Her work has been seen on PBS, HBO, Discovery, ARTE, and in theaters and festivals worldwide. 

American director awarded Sundance's Filmmakers Trophy for her directorial debut, Metamorphosis: Man into Woman (POV, PBS, 1990), cited as the first American film to chronicle a gender transition.