Frederick Marx
An Academy and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Frederick Marx (HOOP DREAMS) has worked 30 years in the film and television business. "Bearing Witness, Creating Change." Transformational stories transforming lives.
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The filmmaker has (1) documentaries on ReelChanges which requires funds for completion.
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A major talent in American filmmaking. All his work is imbued with power, intelligence, social concern, and utter dedication.
Gerry Richman, PBS
Frederick Marx, most known for HOOP DREAMS, is an Academy and Emmy nominated filmmaker, acclaimed now for 30 years. Recent works - the feature film THE UNSPOKEN, starring Harry Lennix and Sergei Shnirev, the documentary mini-series BOYS TO MEN? and the sequel NEW AMERICAN HEROES – all express deep concerns about teen boys realizing mature masculinity. From convention upending short experimental films to feature documentaries Marx brings fresh formal ideas, a unique sense of humor, and an urgent empathy for the sufferings of the disadvantaged to every subject he tackles. His passion for multiculturalism is reflected in PBS’ international human rights program OUT OF THE SILENCE (1991), the acclaimed personal essay DREAMS FROM CHINA (1989), Learning Channel’s SAVING THE SPHINX (1997), and 17 PATHS TO ENLIGHTENMENT (2009). Marx was named a Chicago Tribune Artist of the Year for 1994, a 1995 Guggenheim Fellow, and a recipient of a Robert F. Kennedy Special Achievement Award. As his mission statement demonstrates (“Bearing witness, creating change”), his is a voice strong and clear, and profoundly human... Transformational stories transforming lives.
Additional Details
FREDERICK MARX* - Academy and Emmy Award Nominee
NEW AMERICAN HEROES (in production, 2 hour feature documentary) Demo available on request.
17 PATHS TO ENLIGHTENMENT (in post, 2 hour feature documentary) Demo available on request.
BOYS TO MEN? (2004, 2.5 hour documentary mini-series) “Dozens of poignant moments… unflinching… a real-life glimpse into the emotional turmoil of modern teenagers.” NJ Star-Ledger
THE UNSPOKEN (1999, 35mm Feature Film) “This startlingly unsettling film [is] a slam-dunk…a beautiful meditation on the concept of nature vs. nurture.” Independent Film Magazine. “Rob Sweeney’s stunningly varied lensing and the scope of helmer’s ambition reward serious investment.” Variety. Festivals: Chicago, Taos.
SAVING THE SPHINX (1997, Learning Channel Special, Exec. Producer, Producer)
JOEY SKAGGS: BULLSHIT & BALLS (1996, Beta SP, 7 minutes)
A HOOP DREAMS REUNION (1995, PBS-TV Special, Producer, Editor, Talent)
HOOP DREAMS (1994, 35mm, Producer, Editor) "Best Film of the 1990s!" Roger Ebert. “One of Humanity’s 150 Essential Works” Utne Reader "One of the best films of the year!" Rolling Stone. “A masterpiece!” New York Times. Audience Award, 1994 Sundance Film Festival. Closing Night, 1994 New York Film Festival. Released nationally by Fine Line Features. Academy Award Nominee: Best Editing. Numerous national and international awards, including: Peabody, Prix Italia, IDA, ACE, Producer’s Guild, Best Documentary 1994 from National Critics Board, LA, Boston, New York, and San Francisco Critics. Best Film 1994: Chicago Critics.
HIGHER GOALS (1992, PBS-TV Special) "It reaffirms the value of sports," Chicago Tribune; "And it feels good!" Los Angeles Times. National PBS broadcast October 1992. National Emmy Award Nominee: Best Daytime Children's Special, 1993. Awards: New York Festivals, EFVA (Bronze Apple), International Children's Festival. Funded by Toyota USA, AT&T, Woods Charitable Trust, others.
INSIDE/OUT (1991, play excerpt) National PBS broadcast May 1991 on "The 90's."
OUT OF THE SILENCE (1991, Co-Producer, Editor) "Brilliant... a masterpiece," Chicago Sun-Times; "Extraordinary," Chicago Tribune. Funded by Ford, MacArthur, & Joyce Foundations. PBS broadcast WTTW-Chicago Dec. 1992.
HIDING OUT FOR HEAVEN (1990) "Mind-boggling," Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader. World Premiere: 1990 New York Film Festival; 1991 Bombay Film Festival.
DREAMS FROM CHINA (1989) "Extremely sincere... presents a paradox of Chinese politics and society," New York Times. National TV broadcast: "Distant Lives" Series, Learning Channel & PBS, 1990 - 1991. World premiere: New York Film Festival; Certificate of Merit: Bombay Intl. Film Festival; Silver Plaque: Chicago Intl. Film Festival; Third Prize: Baltimore Intl. Film Festival; Grand Prize: Onion City Film Festival; Cash Awards: Sinking Creek Film Celebration, Athens Intl. Film Festival; Screenings: Vancouver Intl. Film Festival, Hawaii Intl. Film Festival, IFP-NY, Oberhausen Film Festival.
HOUSE OF UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES (1984) Screenings: Intl. "Found Footage" Festival, Vienna, Austria, 1991; Intl. Jewish Film Festival, Paris, France, 1986; Cash Awards: Ann Arbor Film Festival, Sinking Creek, New York Filmmakers Exposition - Metropolitan Museum of Art, Illinois Filmmakers Festival, Big Muddy Film Festival, 1984. TV Broadcast: "Image Union" WTTW-Chicago, 1991.
DREAM DOCUMENTARY (1981) "A masterpiece of compilation film," Alf Bold, Berlin. "Great!" Dusan Makavejev. Cash Awards: New York Filmmakers Exposition, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Sinking Creek, Big Muddy Film Festival. Screenings: BFI-London, Frankfort, Stuttgart, Berlin, Hamburg Kinemathek.
ONE PERSON SHOWS: 2001: Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Villingen Kinematheks/Museums, Germany. 2000: Newark Museum 1996: Northwest Documentary Film Festival, Seattle; 1995: Hamburg Film Festival; Lexington, KY; Chicago Filmmakers. 1992: USIS Library Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. 1990: Museum of Modern Art, NY; Portland Museum of Art; Pacific Cinematheque, Vancouver, Canada; Olympia Film Society. 1989: Chicago Art Institute. 1985: Beijing Film Institute, Xian Film Studio, Tianjin Film Studio, Friendship Hotel, Beijing (Sponsored by U.S. Embassy).
SELECTED AWARDS: 2000: National Endowment for the Arts Artist Residency; 1995: Southern Circuit Tour; Robert F. Kennedy Special Distinction Award; Guggenheim Fellowship; National Arts Club (first film ever so recognized); National Endowment for the Arts Production Grant for feature film “Nightman;” “Sports Journalist of the Year,” CSSS, Boston, Max Beberman Distinguished Alumni Award, University High School, Urbana, IL. 1994: Chicago Tribune “Artist of the Year;” Village Voice “Sports Journalist of the Year.” 1993: $5,000 Illinois Arts Council Fellowship (also 1985 and 1990), $500 CAAP Grant for distribution of "Rolling Steel" (self-produced music); 1989: $5,000 NEA/Midwest Regional Grant for “Hoop Dreams” $500 Illinois Arts Council Special Assistance Grant for distribution of “Dreams From China.”
PUBLIC LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, TEACHING: Council on World Affairs, Harvard, University of Colorado, Naropa University, State Arts Councils Conference, NJ Mountain View Correctional Center, NJ Statewide Youth Activist Conference, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Stanford, UC-Santa Cruz, San Francisco State, Carleton College, Southern Media Institute, Concordia University, University of Hawaii, MIT, SUNY, CUNY, North Central College, University of Illinois, Chicago Art Institute, DePauw University, Earlham College, Kentucky Arts Council, Illinois School Psychologists Assoc., Hamden-Sydney College, Altamont School, Danville Community College, National Council of Teachers of English, University High School All Classes Reunion, China: UIBE, Tianjin University, Tianjin Teachers College, Beijing Film Institute, Xian, Tianjin Studios.
INVITED ARTIST/FESTIVAL JUDGE: Phoenix, Chicago, Taos, Orlando, Bombay, Sydney, Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver, San Sebastian, Athens, Oslo, Vienna, Prague, Turin, Halifax, New York, Hamburg, Northampton, MA.
FREELANCE WORK: PRODUCER/DIRECTOR: 1988: CLEC Promotional Video. 1984: Numerous Educational and Promotional tapes for UIBE, Beijing, China. A.D.: 1988: First Do No Harm - Six part TV mini-series. 1987: First Liberty - 30 minute PBS documentary celebrating 1st Amendment of U.S. Constitution, Production Manager; Manhattan Moonshine - 35mm feature. EDITING: Film and video, all genres: 2007: Schooled – Feature Film; 1997: Tangled - 35mm Feature Film; 1990: The Big Sell - 35 min. 16mm narrative on perniciousness of alcohol industry advertising; A Safer Place - 20 min. video documentary on elder abuse. 1989: Taking Care - 20 min. 3/4" documentary on care-giving for elderly; two Betacam Industrials for Chuck Olin Assoc.; Not a Game - 25 min. 16mm narrative on sexually transmitted diseases.
LANGUAGES: German, conversational Chinese (Mandarin).
EDUCATION: M.F.A. Filmmaking, Southern Illinois University, 1983. B.A. Political Science and Film History, Theory & Criticism, University of Illinois, 1977.
AWARDS
HOOP DREAMS (other film awards available on request)
* Best Documentary of All Time, International Documentary Association, 2007
* "One of the best films ever made." Roger Ebert, 1999
* Academy Awards, 1995 Nominated, Best Film Editing
* American Cinema Editors, USA 1995 Won Best Edited Documentary
* Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 1994 Won Best Documentary
* Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1995 Won Best Picture
* Image Awards 1996 Nominated Image Award Outstanding News, Talk or Information Special
* International Documentary Association 1994 Won IDA Award Feature Documentaries
* Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1994 Won Best Documentary
* National Board of Review 1994 Won Best Documentary
* National Society of Film Critics Awards, 1995 Won Best Documentary
* New York Film Festival, 1994, Closing Night Presentation
* Sundance Film Festival 1994 Won Audience Award Documentary
* Prix Italia 1995 Won Special Prize for Documentary
* Peabody Award, 1996
* Festivals: Toronto, Sydney, Oslo, San Sebastian, London, Vienna, Seoul, Yamagata, Athens, Torino, Vancouver, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, Halifax, Hamburg, Jerusalem, Belgrade
