About

BIOGRAPHY

David Van Taylor is an award-winning filmmaker, an innovative producer, a successful change advocate, and more. His documentaries have screened around the world, from the Berlin Film Festival and NYC’s Film Forum to PBS, HBO, and the BBC. David’s work has confronted America’s changing socio-political landscape for over three decades, while continually expanding the creative and practical bounds of nonfiction filmmaking. And he’s a practicing opera librettist, too!

David’s feature documentaries include A PERFECT CANDIDATE, which topped IndieWire’s “best political films of the past 20 years”; GHOSTS OF ATTICA, “timely for more than historic reasons” (NY Times); and GOOD OL’ CHARLES SCHULZ, “like Peanuts, a great example of minimalist art” (SF Chronicle). He co- created the Religious Right history WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE; the pioneering “docu- soap” LOCAL NEWS; and TO TELL THE TRUTH, a history of documentary film.

David was Vice President of Lumiere Productions Inc. from 1995 to 2012, where he managed the award-winning documentary company. At Lumiere, he also met his future wife, Ali Pomeroy. The two shared their lives and work for 20 years, until her passing in 2015.

David’s kudos include a duPont-Columbia Silver Baton (“the broadcast Pulitzer”), the International Documentary Association Distinguished Achievement Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His work has been supported by both the NEA and the NEH, as well as by foundations including Ford, MacArthur, Pew, and Warhol.

He has written and directed for Robert Redford & Alex Gibney’s DEATH ROW STORIES on CNN; A&E’s INTERVENTION; Michael Moore’s TV NATION on NBC, and public radio’s THIS AMERICAN LIFE. He has collaborated with many top documentary craftspeople, and also has hands-on experience as a videographer, sound recordist, and editor.

Van Taylor also helped spearhead two key changes in the field: the revitalization of fair use in copyright, and the establishment of reasonable standards for freelance employment in nonfiction TV. He is also proud of having mentored many young filmmakers, including some who have gone on to esteemed careers.

In 2012, David launched a second career when he was recruited to write the libretto for an opera about Bernie Madoff. He is currently co-creating an oratorio based on his friend Jamie Livingston’s renowned 17-year “Photo of the Day” project.

Van Taylor graduated from Harvard with a degree in Sociology and Afro-American Studies, and then taught science in a New York City public school. He has lectured and guest-taught at Harvard, Yale, NYU, The New School, American University, and SUNY Purchase among others.

David lives in Brooklyn with his wife, psychotherapist Amy Rosenthal. He has three brilliant and beautiful children.