Multiple

Award Winning

Filmmaker

Demo Reel

LISA FRANCE

WRITER-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEE

Lisa France’s feature and short films have garnered critical and popular acclaim throughout the United States and Europe. Anne B. Real, France’s feature directorial debut, has won over 20 film festival awards and nominations, a Black Reel Award, a Prism nomination and two Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Debut Performance and The John Cassavetes Award in 2004.  France co-produced and co-wrote Anne B. Real.  Currently it is being broadcast on Showtime, Starz and Black Starz.

France wrote and directed two more features in 2004.  Love & Suicide, shot on location in Havana, Cuba, enjoyed a theatrical release in New Jersey and with AMC Select Theaters (www.AMCselect.com) in Miami. The Unseen, which France also produced, stars Gale Harold (Queer As Folk), Steve Harris (The Practice) and Judah Friedlander (American Splendor) and is being sold in territories all over the world and will premier on Starz in the late fall of 2007.

A hyphenate from the start, France wrote, directed, produced and starred in Love In Tow with Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State) and the late Quentin Crisp (Orlando). Love In Tow was an official selection of The Atlanta Film Festival.  From there it traveled to London where it won Best Comedy at the Filmstock International Film Festival and was given a glowing review in the New York based film magazine, “The Independent.”

All three of France’s features have been given positive critical feedback from  major entertainment industry publications such as Variety, The Chicago Tribune and the Village Voice.  In addition, she herself is a published writer with articles in Written By, Filmmaking.com, The Ultimate Film Festival Guide and Digital Cinema Magazine.

In addition to work in the entertainment field, France has always found a way to teach by being a visiting artist or teacher at a variety of institutions including NYU Tisch, UCLA, Marymount, University of Wisconsin, Columbus School of Art & Design and Scott Powers Studios.  Before becoming a filmmaker, Lisa taught a variety of courses at The Ohio State University.  She also supported the development and taught a summer program at Brooklyn College for 9 years called Eureka!  In addition, France has served on  dozens of panels around the country on filmmaking, acting and technical aspects of the entertainment industry. 

France has also directed numerous short films and promos including: Casting, Tripwire, Gen Ex, The Magic Toilet, and Finding Phyllis (the latter, an integral part of the Broadway comedy troupe Chicks With Shticks).  In the wake of September 11th, 2001, Lisa directed Josh Hartnett and Julia Stiles in a PSA for the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, benefiting the victims of 9/11.

France has also served as:  Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated student short film, Fair Play (starring John Heard and Ed Asner); Producer of Tollbooth (starring Tovah Feldshuh and Marla Sokoloff) on which she performed double duty as Associate Producer and First Assistant Director; Associate Producer of the feature documentary, American Roulette,; and First Assistant Director on the urban feature Uninvited Guest (Winner of the Audience Award at Urban World Film Festival and Best Film at The Acapulco International Film Festival) which was distributed by Trimark.

An accomplished actress and stuntwoman, France has had roles in both film and television including: Looking For An Echo, The Out-Of-Towners, The Sopranos, Stuart Little 2, The Siege, 3 AM, and The Summer of Sam. On stage she played the lead in the Off Broadway production Two Fools, which garnered her an exceptional review in “The Village Voice.”  France’s experience on stage and in front of the camera has given her a firm understanding of the art and craft of acting, a critical component of directing, writing and producing.

Most recently, France was selected, for the second time, as a finalist for the esteemed ABC/DGA Directing Fellowship.  Receently she finished writing two original romantic comedies Friends With Benefits and For Rent.  For Rent is in development with Lacey Chabert attached.  In addition, France has just adaptaed Shem Bitterman’s award winning play “Ten Below” which is expected to go into production in late 2007.

Lisa France received her BA from Brooklyn College and her MA from The Ohio State University.   While an undergraduate, she played Division I basketball, cross country and softball for Brooklyn College. Shortly thereafter she played professional basketball for the Manchester Giants in England, and finally transitioned into being a professional runner and tri-athlete for several years.   In 2005, France left New York and moved to Los Angeles to continue her pursuit of writing and directing.