Debra Chasnoff
“I always wanted to make a difference. Making documentary films that open up dialogue about issues I care about deeply has been the path that’s worked for me,” says Debra Chasnoff. An Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has fueled progressive social-change movements in many fields, Chasnoff is the Executive Director of GroundSpark, a national social justice filmmaking and education organization based in San Francisco. Her landmark film, It’s Elementary – Talking About Gay Issues in School, is hailed as a “model of intelligent directing” by International Documentary, and has led to profound changes in adults’ attitudes on how to talk to children about LGBT
people. Chasnofff has directed and produced many other groundbreaking films, including Choosing Children, and One Wedding and a Revolution, which chronicles the days leading up to the decision of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. She serves on the national advisory board of Frameline and Jewish Voices for Peace. -KD
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