Nancy Kates facts for kids

Nancy Kates is a filmmaker who works independently. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is known for directing important films that tell real stories.

One of her films is called Regarding Susan Sontag. This is a documentary about a famous writer and thinker named Susan Sontag. The film uses old videos, interviews, and photos to show how important Sontag's ideas were. It received money from several groups, including the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Nancy Kates is also very well known for her film Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin. She made this full-length documentary with Bennett Singer. It tells the story of Bayard Rustin, a key civil rights leader.

About Brother Outsider

This film first showed at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. It also aired on the PBS TV show POV. The film won many awards. These included the 2004 GLAAD Media Award. It also won audience awards at major film festivals.

Critics praised Brother Outsider. TIME Magazine said Rustin was a very important figure. The Wall Street Journal called the film "marvelous." The New York Times said it was "packed with information." The Village Voice said the film "vividly brings back to life a man who deeply and brilliantly influenced the civil rights and peace movements."

Early Films and Education

In 1995, Nancy Kates earned a master's degree from Stanford University's film program. Her master's project, Their Own Vietnam, won a Student Academy Award for documentaries.

This film shares the stories of five American women. They served in the Vietnam War. The film uses old footage, home movies, and photos. It shows a complex picture of their lives. Their Own Vietnam was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest Film Festival. It also aired on public television. The film won an award from the International Documentary Association.

The Journal of American History praised the film. It said the film was "extremely compelling." LA Weekly liked its honesty.

Kates also made other films. These include Castro Cowboy, a short film about Christen Haren. Other films are Joining the Tribe, Married People, and Going to Extremes.

Nancy Kates graduated from Harvard University in 1984. She worked at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. There, she wrote about public policy. She was also a producer for the PBS series Computer Chronicles. She often speaks at schools and universities.

Awards and Recognition

Nancy Kates' films have received many awards.

Awards for Brother Outsider

• Outstanding Documentary. GLAAD Media Awards, 2004
• Silver Hugo Award. Chicago International Television Competition, 2004
• American Library Association Notable Videos for Adults, 2004
• Jury Award for Best Documentary. Icelandic Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, 2004
• CINE Golden Eagle, 2003
• Audience Award for Best Documentary. 27th San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, 2003
• Best Documentary. Cinequest San Jose Film Festival, 2003
• Outstanding Documentary Feature (tie). Outfest: Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2003
• Audience Award for Best Feature. New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2003
• Best Documentary Award. Turin International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, 2003
• Jury Award for Best Documentary. Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, 2003
• Audience Award for Best Documentary. Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, 2003
• First Prize in Documentary. Rhode Island Film Festival, 2003
• Jury Award for Best Documentary. Athens International Film Festival, 2003
• Audience Award for Best Documentary. Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2003
• Audience Award for Best Documentary. Indianapolis Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2003

Awards for Their Own Vietnam

• Student Academy Award, Documentary. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 1995
• Certificate of Merit. David Wolper/International Documentary Association, 1995
• Merit Award. South by Southwest Film Festival, 1996
• Emerging Artists Award. Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, 1996
• Second Prize, Documentary. UFVA Film and Video Festival, 1996
• Athena Award (for achievement in Lesbian Film), Documentary, 1996
• Women’s Programming Award. Humboldt International Film Festival, 1996
• Award of Merit. Sinking Creek Film Festival, Nashville, 1996

Awards for Castro Cowboy

• Director's Choice Award. Black Maria Film Festival, 1993
• Judge’s Special Merit Award. New England Film and Video Festival, 1993
• Bronze Apple Award. National Educational Film and Video Festival, 1993

Filmography

Here is a list of some of Nancy Kates' films:

• Joining the Tribe
• Married People
• Going to Extremes
• Castro Cowboy (1992). This film is 7 minutes long.
• Their Own Vietnam (1995). This film is 23 minutes long.
• Vale of Tears (2002). This film is 4 minutes long.
• Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin (2003). This film is 84 minutes long.