Stefan Schaefer

Last updated
Stefan Schaefer
StefanSchaefer 2015.jpg
Schaefer in 2015
Born (1971-08-17) August 17, 1971 (age 54)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education Wesleyan University (BA)
Kiel University (Fulbright Scholar)
Occupations
Spouse Chenta Laury
Children2

Stefan Schaefer (born August 17, 1971) is an American filmmaker and entrepreneur. He works as a screenwriter and director for films that have been screened at festivals such as South by Southwest and the Berlin International Film Festival.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Schaefer was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was raised in Sussex during his early childhood, and later lived in both Michigan and New York. He studied theatre and political theory at Wesleyan University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. After completing his undergraduate studies, he spent a year and a half in Germany as a Fulbright scholar at Kiel University. After returning to New York City, he co-founded the production company Cicala Filmworks. [1]

He is the maternal grandson of Carl R. Eklund, a polar explorer and ornithologist. [2] [3]

Career

Schaefer's films have been screened at festivals such as the Berlin International Film Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW). [4] His work has been made available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO, PBS, and Sundance Channel. [5]

With writer Chris Silber, [6] Schaefer has co-written television films for the European networks ARD and ZDF, including two productions filmed in Hawaii. [7]

Schaefer directed the documentary, Contested Streets, [8] which compared the use of public space and streets in New York City with London, Paris, and Copenhagen. The film was shown at environmental film festivals and aired on Sundance TV as part of The Green series. [9] He also directed a documentary on W.S. Merwin, Even Though the Whole World Is Burning . [10]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleCreditNotes
2005 Confess Director/writer
2006 Act Normal Co-producerDocumentary
Contested Streets [8] Director/Producer/EditorDocumentary
2007 Arranged [11] Director/Writer/Producer
2008The Higher Force [12] Writer/Producer/ActorComedy
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela Drama film
2009 The Hungry Ghosts Producer/ActorDrama film
2011 The Roundup Director/Writer/ProducerShort film
Get a Job [13] Producer/Actor
My Last Day Without You [14] Director/Writer/Producer
2014 Even Though the Whole World Is Burning Director/Writer/ProducerDocumentary
2017KuleanaProducer/Actor
2020 Aloha Surf Hotel [15] Director/Writer/Producer
2023ViralDirector/Co-writer/ProducerShort film
2024Grit & Gratitude: The Sig Anderman StoryDirector/Writer/ProducerDocumentary
Television
YearTitleCredit
2009Circledrawers [16] Co-creator/producer/actor
2012First Lady / Nicht mit mir, Liebling [17] Writer
2013The Paradise Within / Das Paradies in uns
To Love, Let Go / Wer liebt, lässt los
2015 Bluewater: Nightmare in Paradise  [ de ] / Blauwasserleben
2016Surf Break Hotel [18] Director/Writer/Producer
W.S. Merwin: To Plant a Tree Director/Writer/Producer
2018I Am Because You AreDirector/Writer/Producer

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Stefan Schaefer - notes". pages.ziisnotes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  2. ↑ "Eklund's Antarctic". www.karinschaefer.com. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  3. ↑ "Carl Eklund". usas1939.org. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  4. ↑ Ankrum, Nora (March 9, 2007). "Looking More Closely When Others Look Away". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  5. ↑ "Stefan C. Schaefer". MUBI. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  6. ↑ Rotterdam Film Festival. "The Hungry Ghosts".
  7. ↑ Die Stimme Berlins. "Blauwasserleben: Wie eine Traumreise zum Albtraum wurde".
  8. 1 2 Schaefer, Stefan C. (2006-06-27), Contested Streets (Documentary), Majora Carter, Kenneth Jackson, Robert R. Kiley, Cicala Filmworks, retrieved 2024-10-15
  9. ↑ "Sundance Channel Does Transportation". Sustainablog.
  10. ↑ Huffington Post. "Watching the World Burn with Merwin".
  11. ↑ Bennett, Bruce (2007-12-14). "Break On Through To The Other Side". Archived from the original on June 20, 2008.
  12. ↑ Johannesson, Olaf de Fleur (2008-03-28), Stóra planið (Comedy), Pétur Jóhann Sigfússon, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Eggert Þorleifsson, Cicala Filmworks, Icelandic Film Center, Kukl, retrieved 2025-01-28
  13. ↑ Chatenlever, Rick (April 2010). "Get A Job in the movie biz". Archived from the original on April 26, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Cameras Set To Roll on US-German Romance My Last Day Without You". 2010-06-22. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  15. ↑ Subiono, R (2023-10-05). "Maui screenwriter welcomes new union deal as 148-day strike ends". Archived from the original on February 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ Mack, R (2009-06-10). "Angels Walk Amongst Us in Web-Series 'Circledrawers'". Archived from the original on June 12, 2009.
  17. ↑ Nennstiel, Thomas (2012-03-23), Nicht mit mir, Liebling (Comedy), Ursula Karven, Hans Werner Meyer, Henning Baum, ARD Degeto Film, teamWorx Television & Film, retrieved 2025-01-28
  18. ↑ Schaefer, Stefan C., Surf Break Hotel (Comedy), Nick Corirossi, Tani Lynn Fujimoto, John Gemberling, Abominable Pictures, retrieved 2025-01-28
  19. ↑ "NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS Directory of Artists' Fellows & Finalists" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "Berlinale Talents - Stefan Schaefer". Berlinale Talents. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  21. ↑ "Panasonic Professional Video Products - Press Release". 2004-12-07. Archived from the original on 7 December 2004. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  22. ↑ Scheib, Ronnie (2005-11-08). "Confess". Variety. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  23. ↑ Johans, Jen. "Arranged (2007)" . Retrieved 2025-03-09.
  24. ↑ mattdentler (2007-08-31). "Emerging Visions Class of 2007: Stefan Schaefer ('Arranged')". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  25. ↑ "SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL 2024". www.skipcity-dcf.jp. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
  26. ↑ Skip City. "Results".
  27. ↑ Morales, Wilson (2011-12-14). "Pariah Lead Black Reel Awards Field". blackfilm.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  28. ↑ "Residents". Can Cab. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  29. ↑ "HIFF40 | HIFF | Hawai'i International Film Festival" . Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  30. ↑ "Aloha Surf Hotel |". 2020-11-29. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  31. ↑ SFCA grantee spotlight. "Viral".
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