Citizen Film

Citizen Film is a not-for-profit, San Francisco-based documentary company founded in 2002 by Sam Ball, Sophie Constantinou and Kate Stilley Steiner. Citizen Film specializes in producing media that “fosters active engagement in cultural and civic life."^[1]

They produce long-form documentary programs such as Joann Sfar Draws from Memory and Green Streets (in progress), and they have produced more than 100 short films.^[2] In addition, they provide key production and/or post-production services for independent producers such as Nancy Kates (Regarding Susan Sontag); Vicki Abeles (Race to Nowhere); Tiffany Shlain (The Tribe); and Jenni Olson (575 Castro St.).^[3][4][5][6]

Citizen Film collaborated with Academy Award-winner Debra Chasnoff and her nonprofit production company Groundspark on several films. Citizen Film’s Kate Stilley Steiner produced and edited Groundspark’s That’s a Family (2000),^[7][8] One Wedding and a Revolution (2004),^[9] Let’s Get Real (2004),^[10] It’s Still Elementary (2007),^[11] and A Foot in the Door;^[12] Sophie Constantinou provided cinematography for One Wedding and a Revolution (2004)^[9] and A Foot in the Door.^[12] Chasnoff’s final film, Prognosis – notes on living, was co-produced by Citizen Film and Groundspark.^{[13][14][15][16]} After Chasnoff's passing in 2017, GroundSpark's films were transferred to Citizen Film, where they are owned and distributed through the Debra Chasnoff / Groundspark Legacy Initiative.^{[17] [18]}

Citizen Film also produces new media projects such as Lunch Love Community, co-directed by Constantinou and Helen De Michiel; and Half-Remembered Stories, a collaboration with the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.^[19][20]

• Citizen Film Website