Greta Schiller is an American filmmaker and writer whose work has showcased the LGBT community for over 30 years. She has directed several award-winning documentaries, including Before Stonewall, Paris is Burning, and The Brandon Teena Story.
Schiller was born in 1951 in New York City and raised in a Jewish family. She attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 1975 with a degree in English literature. After college, she moved to San Francisco and began working at a film production company.
In the early 1980s, Schiller became interested in LGBT rights and began making documentaries about the LGBT community. Her first documentary, Before Stonewall, explored the history of LGBT activism in America. The film was released in 1984 and became an instant classic.
In 1989, Schiller released her second documentary, Paris is Burning. The film explores the ballroom culture of New York City’s African-American and Latino LGBT communities. The film won numerous awards and is considered one of the most important documentaries of the 1980s.
In 1994, Schiller released The Brandon Teena Story, a biographical documentary about Brandon Teena, the trans man who was murdered in 1993. The film won numerous awards and was praised for its sensitive portrayal of Teena’s life.
In addition to her documentaries, Schiller has written several books about LGBT history and culture. She also frequently lectures at universities and other speaking engagements.
Throughout her career, Schiller has been passionate about advocating for LGBT rights. She has received numerous awards for her work, including a Peabody Award and an Academy Award nomination.
Schiller continues to make documentaries and other works that explore the LGBT community. She is a passionate advocate for LGBT rights and will continue to create works that shed light on the community’s struggles and successes.
