Emmy®-nominated documentary film director / producer / educator
Brett A. Schwartz is an Emmy®-winning director/producer based in the Chicago area. Schwartz’s latest feature documentary RAISED UP WEST SIDE (2023) screened in more than 25 film festivals and won several awards, including a Regional Emmy® through the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The film was released by Freestyle Digital Media and is available via digital HD and DVD on many platforms including Amazon, AppleTV, Sling, and DirecTV.
Schwartz’s previous feature documentary, INSATIABLE: THE HOMARO CANTU STORY premiered at SXSW in 2016 and screened in dozens of film festivals, including The Seattle Int’l Film Festival, The Chicago Int’l Film Festival, Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival, and several others. The film is distributed by Virgil Films and has streamed on Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV, and additional services.
A short film titled HIGHLAND PARK STRONG was nominated for a Regional Emmy Award in 2023. A 2018 short documentary entitled MÁS QUE LA PLAYA: PUERTO VALLARTA was nominated for a Regional Emmy as well that year.
Schwartz’s feature-length documentary, MASHED MEDIA (2010) aired on WTTW Chicago PBS and is distributed by Films for the Humanities & Sciences. A short film entitled SHIFTING TRADITIONS (2000) aired on KQED San Francisco PBS and was distributed by The University of California Center for Media and Independent Learning. In addition to his work as an independent director/producer, Schwartz produced documentaries that aired on several networks, including Bravo, MSNBC, HGTV, Court TV, CBS, and PBS. Schwartz received a Master’s in Documentary Film and Video Production from Stanford University in 1999 and lives in Highland Park, Illinois with his wife Aviva and their two children.
Emmy Award nomination
Highland Park Strong
Chicago/Midwest Chapter of Television Arts and Sciences
Chicago
2023
Official Selection
Highland Park Strong
Social Change ChangeFest
Chicago
2023
Emmy Award
Raised Up West Side
Chicago/Midwest Chapter of Television Arts and Sciences
Chicago
2023
Best Documentary
Raised Up West Side
Hudson International Film Festival
New YORK
2023
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Halifax Black Film Festival
Halifax
2023
Audience Award - Feature Documentary
Raised Up West Side
Baltimore International Black Film Festival
Baltimore
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Twin Cities Film Festival
St. Louis Park
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
International Black Film Festival
Nashville
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Social Justice Film Festival
Seattle
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
San Antonio Film Festival
San Antonio
2022
Best of Fest Screening
Raised Up West Side
Filmocracy Fest
Los Angeles
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
New Hope Film Festival
New Hope
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Indy Film Fest
Indianapolis
2022
Bronze Telly Award
Raised Up West Side
The Telly Awards
New York
2022
Best Feature Documentary
Raised Up West Side
Piermont Film Festival
Piermont
2022
Best Director -Feature Documentary
Raised Up West Side
Hamilton Black Film Festival
Hamilton
2022
Gold Award
Raised Up West Side
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
Houston
2022
Best Use of Music
Raised Up West Side
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Dubuque
2022
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Sarasota Film Festival
Sarasota
2022
Emmy Award nominee
Más Que La Play: Puerto Vallarta
Chicago/Midwest Chapter of Television arts and Sciences
Chicago
2018
Award of Excellence
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
Cinema WorldFest Awards
Toronto
2016
Best Feature Documentary
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
Cine Sol Film Festival
Harlingen
2016
Honorable Mention- Audience Award
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
Philadelphia Film Festival
Philadelphia
2016
Bronze Telly Award
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
The Telly Awards
New York
2016
Award of Recognition
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards
Los Angeles
2016
Spotlight Silver Award
Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story
The Spotlight Documentary Film Awards
Atlanta
2015
CINDY Award
Shifting Traditions
CINDY Awards
Flour Mound
2000
Honoree
Shifting Traditions
Brookyln Film Festival
Brooklyn
2000
Gold Award
Silicon Harvest
WorldFest
Houston
1999
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
St. Louis International Film Festival
St. Louis
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
LA Black Film Festival
Los Angeles
Official Selection
Raised Up West Side
Gary International Black Film Festival
Gary
College
Stanford University
Documentary Film & TV Production
19971999
College
Cornell University
Art (Photography) / History
19901995
College
New York University
Social Studies Education
20022003
Emmy®-nominated documentary film director / producer / educator
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