Nancy Kates  

Nancy Kates produced and directed the feature-length HBO documentary REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG, which premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, where it received a Special Jury Mention. It has since screened at over 130 film festivals in 35 countries, and received several honors, including a FOCAL International Award. REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG received major funding from the NEA, the NEH, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and Sundance. Ms. Magazine named the film one of 2014’s top ten feminist films, while critics called it "compelling" and "perceptive" (NY Times); "a stunning portrait" (Ally Derks, IDFA); and "mesmerizing, thoughtful, provocative" (Times Herald Record), praising its "boldly evocative impressionist strokes" (SF Chronicle). Kates produced and directed BROTHER OUTSIDER: THE LIFE OF BAYARD RUSTIN, with Bennett Singer. The film premiered in competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and on the PBS series "POV," winning more than 25 awards worldwide. Critics described it as "a potent piece of historical rediscovery" (LA Times); "beautifully crafted" (Boston Globe); "powerful and startling" (The Advocate); and "poignant"(TIME). Kates studied documentary film at Stanford; her master’s thesis, THEIR OWN VIETNAM, received the 1995 Student Academy Award. In 2014, she was included in the OUT 100, the magazine’s list of intriguing LGBT Americans. (03/19)