Lynn Novick is an American film and television director, producer, and editor. She is best known for her work on the acclaimed documentary series The Vietnam War (2017) and Prohibition (2011).
Novick was born and raised in New York City. She attended Sarah Lawrence College, where she received her BA in film studies in 1985. After college she worked as a production assistant for several independent film and television projects.
Novick's first major directing credit was for the 1997 documentary series The War, which she co-directed with her long-time collaborator, filmmaker and historian Ken Burns. The series was a critical success, and Novick and Burns’s work on it earned them an Emmy Award.
Novick went on to direct and produce a number of other documentaries, including The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009), The Central Park Five (2012), Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies (2015), and College Behind Bars (2018).
In 2017, Novick and Burns co-directed The Vietnam War, a 10-part, 18-hour documentary series. The series was widely praised for its nuance and sensitivity, and it was nominated for four Emmy Awards, including one for Novick’s direction.
In addition to her work as a director, Novick has served as a consulting producer on several films and documentaries, including The Dust Bowl (2012) and Jackie Robinson (2016).
Novick is also an advocate for film and television education. She has served as a visiting professor at Columbia University’s Film School and as a mentor for the Tribeca Film Institute’s All Access program.
Novick has won numerous awards throughout her career, including a Peabody Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, and an Emmy Award. In 2019, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association.
Novick continues to work as a director, producer, and editor on documentaries and other projects. Her work continues to be recognized and appreciated for its remarkable insight and sensitivity.
