Lindsay O'Keefe
Lindsay O'Keefe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Lakewood, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Organization |
|
Lindsay O'Keefe is an American documentary filmmaker and disability rights advocate.[1] She is known for her work in documentary filmmaking and her focus on disability rights. She is best known as the director of the documentary film "Alive Day," featuring a Paralympic swimmer. Other credits include "Rock Star," "Zombie Lake," "What's Next?," "Dear Diary," and "Neil."[2]
Early life and education
O'Keefe was born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio. Since a young age, she has exhibited a strong interest in filmmaking and storytelling, often filming with her cousins using an iPad. At 12, O’Keefe joined Youth Challenge, a nonprofit organization that pairs young people with physical disabilities with teen volunteers for adaptive sports and social activities.[3]
O'Keefe graduated from The Laurel School in 2021 and is currently a senior at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, majoring in film and television with a minor in disability studies, graduating in December 2024.
Career
O'Keefe began her filmmaking career in 2019 with her debut documentary, Alive Day: The Breanna Sprenger Story, featuring a Paralympic swimmer. The documentary was featured in several film festivals nationwide and received several awards, including "Best Local Documentary" at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.[4]
In 2020–21, "Alive Day" was featured at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival.[5] O'Keefe has also directed and edited a short documentary titled "Rock Star," which explores a young musician's unconventional journey in New York City.[6]
O'Keefe has held various internships, including roles at Campfire Studios, Blowback Productions, Women Make Movies, the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Hemlock Films Ltd., and the National Organization for Italian Americans in Film and Television.[7] At Blowback Productions, she worked as a production assistant on the HBO feature documentary "An American Bombing: The Road to April 19," with Katie Couric as the executive producer. Additionally, she was a crew member on Taylor Taglianetti’s feature documentary “What’s Next?”[8]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Dear Diary | Editor |
| 2018 | Zombie Lake | Director |
| 2019 | Alive Day: The Breanna Sprenger Story | Director |
| 2020 | Rock Star | Director, Editor |
| 2021 | Neil | Cinematographer |
| 2024 | What's Next? | Additional Crew |
Awards and recognitions
O'Keefe's debut documentary, “Aliva Day,” has earned her several accolades, including:
- Best Local Documentary at the 2020 Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
- Outstanding Documentary Award at the Short. Sweet. Film. Festival
- Best Student Film Award at the 2019 Southern Shorts Award
References
- ↑ "Lindsay O'Keefe: Movies, TV, and Bio". www.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ "Filmmaker Lindsay O'Keefe | Lakewood Public Library". www.lakewoodpubliclibrary.org. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ "Lindsay O'Keefe '21 Talks Filmmaking and her Award-Winning Documentary". Laurel School. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ "Youth filmmaker turns hobby into award-winning passion". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ John Benson, special to cleveland com (4 June 2021). "Award-winning Lakewood filmmaker heading to NYU". cleveland. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ June 1, Posted on. "Intern Update: Lindsay O'Keefe". Cleveland Film. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ Palmer, Carolyn (11 May 2021). "Youth Challenge: The Power of Inclusion". Youth Challenge. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ↑ Thomas, George M. "Aspiring youth filmmakers earn their version of Oscars gold in Cleveland, Ohio". The Enquirer. Retrieved 4 June 2024.