Sam Fleischner

Fleischner's directing career began with micro-budget feature film, Wah Do Dem, shot on location on a cruise ship and across Jamaica. The film premiered at the 2009 Los Angeles film festival where it won the Jury prize for best feature film. Factory 25 released the film the following year and ended up on several top 10 lists. Amy Taubin of Film Comment, called it "one of the best debuts of the 21st century." Fleischner's second dramatic feature, Stand Clear of the Closing Doors premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize for best film. The film also won awards at NBR, Deauville, Athens, and picked up a nomination for best female performance at the Independent Spirit Awards. Stephen Holden of the New York Times, called it a "small miracle of a film", and listed in his top 10 of 2014. In addition to directing, Fleischner has worked as a cinematographer on several narrative feature films and documentaries. Most recently doubling as DP and producer for the indie comedy, Donald Cried, (AFI audience award winner), released in 2017 by The Orchard. In addition to feature film work Fleischner has directed commercials for brands like Target, American Express, Chipotle, Samsung, and music videos for MGMT, Santigold, Snowblink, and Panda Bear. Fleischner founded the Rockaway Film Festival in 2018.