The Island’s film community came together on Tuesday night to celebrate Academy Award-winning film producer Geralyn Dreyfous for her work in the documentary world. Circuit Arts presented her with the Martha’s Vineyard Film Icon Award.
The Island’s film community came together on Tuesday night to honor Academy Award-winning film producer Geralyn Dreyfous for her work in the documentary world. Circuit Arts presented her with the Martha’s Vineyard Film Icon Award.
Ms. Dreyfous has produced a number of award-winning documentaries, including Academy Award-winning Born into Brothels and the 2015 film The Hunting Ground, which focuses on sexual assault on college campuses. She helped found the Utah Film Center, which provides programming and funding for filmmakers, and is the co-founder of Impact Partners, an organization that produces documentary films focused on social issues.
“Right now, documentaries are like a lifeline to what’s happening in the world,” she told the Gazette. “These are a mirror back to us all about who we are becoming.”
This is the second Martha’s Vineyard Film Icon Award awarded by Circuit Arts. Brian Ditchfield, the executive director of Circuit Arts, said that the organization started the award as a way to bring the filmmaking community on the Island together.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. speaks speaks about impact of Ms. Dreyfous's work.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. speaks speaks about impact of Ms. Dreyfous's work.
“We wanted to honor the film community that is so rich in talent on Martha’s Vineyard,” he told the Gazette. “It also feels like a great way to galvanize that community and bring them together.”
Last year, the Icon award went to Dawn Porter, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and seasonal resident of the Island. Ms. Porter presented the award to Ms. Dreyfous.
“I am happy to hand this over to one of the true icons, not only of this Island, but of all documentary across the world,” Mr. Porter told the crowd.
A short film showing clips of the documentaries Ms. Dreyfous has produced, along with interviews with the directors, characterized her as a passionate problem solver. Throughout the night, friends and colleagues spoke about how she has impacted the industry and their personal lives.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., the host of Finding Your Roots, compared Ms. Dreyfous to an octopus because she is involved with so many different projects and aspects of life on the Vineyard.
Circuit Arts board members.
Circuit Arts board members.
“Geralyn is the glue that held together a large and lively network of people,” he said. “Geralyn works hard to make sure that so many of us can do the work that we do with the necessary resources and support.”
Mr. Gates added that Ms. Dreyfous came up with the idea for the group that became The Inkwell Society, which helps fund films about African American experiences.
Dan Cogan, the co-founder of Impact Partners, said it was difficult to find the right words to honor Ms. Dreyfous without resorting to cliches to describe her selflessness and kindness.
“These are things that people say at events like this, and rightly so, but with Geralyn they are literally the truth,” he said. “I think the most honest thing I can say about her, and the most literal thing I can say, is that Geralyn changes lives.”
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