Sam Feder
Sam Feder created and directed the critically acclaimed films, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY (Sundance 2025), DISCLOSURE (Sundance 2020), Kate Bornstein is a Queer and Pleasant Danger (2014), and Boy I Am (2006).
Sam’s filmmaking practice centers on exposing silences in order to build solidarity across movements for political, social, and economic justice via portraiture and urgent communal issues. Their films explore the intersection of visibility and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender. Sam’s work has been programmed internationally at festivals, theaters, and museums such as, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, CPH:DOX, DOCNYC, Sheffield DocFest, DC/DOX, MOMA-PS1, The Hammer Museum, The Alamo Drafthouse and more. Sam’s film, DISCLOSURE, was nominated for a Peabody Award and he was recently invited to be a voting member of the OSCARS Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Documentary Branch.
Sam’s work has been supported by Ford/JustFilms, Perspective Fund, Field of Vision, California Humanities, The Jerome Foundation, Threshold, IFP Film Week, Good Pitch USA, and the MacDowell, and Yaddo artist residencies.
FILMOGRAPHY : DIRECTOR
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
World Premiere Sundance, 2025
DISCLOSURE
A Netflix Original, World Premiere Sundance, 2020
Kate Bornstein Is A Queer & Pleasant Danger
World Premiere, British Film Institute, 2014
Boy I Am
World Premiere, NewFest, 2006
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
When The Dust Settles
Short web series, 2012
This All Happened Already
Hunter Shorts Series, 2011
BILLY: a portrait of a dancer
Hunter Shorts Series, 2010
No More Lies
LA Film Festival, 2009
SCRIPTED FICTION WORK
City of Night
Y.D. Fox Entertainment, TV PIlot, 2027
CONNECT, Calling all Superheroes
Netflix, Animation, 2022
FILMOGRAPHY : CREW
Executive Producer, I WISHED
Dir. Ash Hoyle Cook
Executive Producer, ECSTASIE
Dir. Lily Baldwin
Producer/Editor, F. Scott Fitzgerald Slept Here
Dir. Jules Rosskam
Producer, Against A Trans Narrative
Dir. Jules Rosskam
Associate Producer, Beyond Good And Evil
Dir. Chyng-Feng Sun
Camera, Riot Acts
Dir. Angelo Madsen Minax
Camera, The Rink
Dir. Sarah Friedland
Assistant Camera, My Best Day
Dir. Erin Greenwell
Editor, For The Love Of Dolly
Dir. Tai Ulhmann
Boom Operator, Lover Other
Dir. Barbara Hammer
Gaffer, Keep It Moving
Dir. Silas Howard
Social Media Strategist, Care
Dir. Deirdre Fischel
Impact Producer, Out Run
Co-Directors Johnny Symons and S. Leo Chiang
Archival Researcher, Ancient Creature of The Deep
Dir. Celia Lowenstein
GRANTS
Ford Foundation/Just Films
Perspective Fund
Field of Vision
The Harnish Foundation
Threshold
California Humanities Documentary Project Grant
CUNY Professional Development Grant
Jerome Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Frameline Completion Fund
Crossroads Foundation
Funding Exchange Paul Robeson
Astrea Foundation for Justice
Illinois Arts Council
CLAGS, Robert Giard Grant, Honorable Mention
Chicken and Egg Pictures Breakthrough Award Nominee
AWARDS
PEABODY, Nominee
DOC NYC, Short List
GLADD, Outstanding Documentary Award
IDA Best Editing, Nominee
Chicken and Egg Picture’s Breakthrough Nominee
Cinema Eye Outstanding Film, Nominee
Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Award, Cleveland Film Festival, Nominee
Knight Documentary Award, Miami Film Festival, Nominee
Dorian Documentary of the Year, Award
Hunter College, James Aronson Award,
Beacon Independent Film Festival, Best Feature
Equality California, Equality Visibility Award
The Queerties, Best Documentary
PINK News Awards, Best Documentary
James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism
TranScreen International Film Festival, Best Feature
Ireland International Film Festival, JURY Special Commendation
Beacon Independent Film Festival, Best Feature
Trans|Lations Film Festival, Best Feature
Seattle International Film Festival, Best Documentary Feature Award
BROADCAST/THEATER/MUSEUMS
Netflix, World Wide
Here!TV, National Broadcast
Alamo Draft House, National
Firehouse Cinema, New York, NY
ROXY Cinema, San Francisco CA
Laemmle Theaters, Los Angeles, CA
Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY
MOMA-PS1, New York, NY
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
National Museum for Women, Washington, DC
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center,
Buffalo, NY
UCLA Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Smith College Archives, Northampton MA
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME