Margaret Lazarus facts for kids

Margaret Lazarus is an American film producer and director. She is famous for making documentary films. These films often focus on important topics like fairness for everyone and women's rights. In 1993, she and her partner, Renner Wunderlich, won an Oscar for their documentary called Defending Our Lives.

About Margaret Lazarus

Early Life and Education

Margaret Lazarus was born in New York City in January 1949. Her father, Leon Lazarus, was a painter and art teacher. Her mother, Paula Lazarus, was an elementary school teacher and librarian.

Margaret studied at Vassar College and graduated with honors in 1969. She then earned a master's degree in Broadcasting and Film. This was from the Boston University College of Communication. She started her career working for a TV station in Boston. She wrote and produced a weekly show about public affairs.

Making Films for Change

In 1974, Margaret Lazarus and Renner Wunderlich started a non-profit group. It is called Cambridge Documentary Films. Through this group, Margaret has made and directed 20 films. These films are all about social justice and women's issues. Social justice means making sure everyone is treated fairly. Women's issues are about challenges and rights for women.

Cambridge Documentary Films has made many important movies. Some films talk about body image and how media affects us. These include "BirthMarkings" and "Killing Us Softly." Other films discuss healing from difficult experiences, like "Strong at the Broken Places." They have also made films about the history of workers, such as "Eugene Debs and the American Movement."

Margaret Lazarus has always combined making documentaries with working for social change. In 1999, she made a series of short films. These films were about women, violence, and human rights. They were shown at the UN General Assembly. This is a big meeting of countries at the United Nations. She also helped write parts of "Our Bodies Ourselves." This is a well-known book about women's health.

Teaching and Recognition

From 2006 to 2009, Margaret taught at Tufts University. She taught a class called "Producing Films for Social Change." She also served on a special committee. This committee was for documentary films at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the group that gives out the Oscars.

Besides her Oscar, Margaret's films have won many other awards. They have been shown at film festivals all over the world. These include festivals in London, Chicago, and Seattle. Margaret Lazarus is currently the Executive Director of Cambridge Documentary Films. She also has an art project called "Affinity." It combines video and live dance. It is planned to be shown at the Santa Barbara Museum of Fine Arts.

Filmography

• 1974 "Taking Our Bodies Back: The Women's Health Movement"
• 1977 "Eugene Debs and the American Movement"
• 1979 "Killing Us Softly"
• 1984 "Hazardous Inheritance: Workplace Hazards to Reproductive Health"
• 1986 "Last Empire: US Intervention"
• 1987 "Still Killing Us Softly"
• 1988 "Not Just a Job"
• 1991 "Life's Work"
• 1993 "Defending Our Lives"
• 1998 "Strong at the Broken Places"
• 1999 "Women's Rights, Human Rights"
• 2000 "Beyond Killing Us Softly"
• 2001 "The Strength to Resist: Media's Impact on Women and Girls"
• 2005 "Healing the Wounds" (producer only)
• 2010 "BirthMarkings"
• 2020 "Affinity 2020"