Maris Curran is an American filmmaker. She is best known for directing the films Five Nights in Maine (2015) and Jeannette (2022).
Career Maris earned her BA from Smith College and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She participated in the Whitney Independent Study Program at the Whitney Museum of American Art and won a Fulbright Scholarship to Mexico City. In 2015, she directed her debut feature film, Five Nights in Maine, starring David Oyelowo, Teyonah Parris, Rosie Perez and Dianne Wiest, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically. In 2016, she directed the documentary short, The Man Is the Music, about the artist and musician Lonnie Holley. In 2018, her short documentary film, While I Yet Live, about five quilters and freedom fighters from Gee's Bend, Alabama premiered at the Berlinale.
In 2022, Maris directed the feature documentary, Jeannette, about Jeannette Feliciano, a survivor of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre. The film provides an intimate window into the aftermath of trauma. She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2023.
Filmography YearTitle Contribution Note 2015 Five Nights in Maine Director, writer and producer Feature film 2016 The Man Is the Music Director and producer Short Documentary 2018 While I yet Live Director and producer Short Documentary 2022 Jeannette Director and producer Documentary
Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.2016 NominatedCleveland International Film FestivalBest American Independent Feature FilmFive Nights in Maine NominatedNashville Film FestivalBridgestone Narrative Feature Competition NominatedPalm Springs International Film FestivalNew Visions Grand Jury Prize NominatedVail Film FestivalNarrative Feature WonAshland Independent Film FestivalBest Ensemble Acting2017 WonIndie MemphisAudience AwardThe Man Is The Music2018 NominatedLA Film FestivalBest Documentary ShortWhile I yet Live NominatedBerlin International Film FestivalBest Short Film WonNashville Film FestivalSpecial Jury Prize WonRiverRun International Film FestivalBest Documentary Short WonFrameline Film FestivalFrameline Completion FundJeannette2022 WonSan Francisco International Film FestivalBest Documentary Feature WonOutfestBest Documentary Feature References
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