Meet Filmmaker
Lara Stolman
What critics are saying about my work:
Meet Filmmaker Lara Stolman
What critics are saying about my work:
Lara’s Story
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Lara Stolman is a producer and director of film, television and digital media. Her work has appeared in theaters, on Netflix, PBS, NBC, MSNBC, AMC, VH-1 and The New York Times’ website. She specializes in artful and intimate character-driven storytelling that illuminates, inspires and features unforgettable personalities.
After over a decade producing news and documentaries for network and cable television, Lara produced and directed “Swim Team,” an independent feature documentary film chronicling the rise of a competitive swim team made up of diverse teenagers on the autism spectrum. “Swim Team” was funded in part through grants from New York Women in Film and Television, the Aetna Foundation, Easterseals and the Karma Foundation. “Swim Team” screened at over 50 film festivals and won 14 awards. It premiered theatrically at New York’s IFC Center, made its broadcast debut on PBS’ POV and streamed on Netflix. Beyond television and digital distribution worldwide, “Swim Team” continues to screen via a grassroots campaign that has brought it to non-profits, schools and other local organizations in over 200 communities to date.
Lara has written for HuffPost, Entrepreneur and other publications and she appears as a panelist, keynote speaker and guest teacher on documentary production, independent filmmaking and film distribution. Her speaking and teaching engagements have included: NYU, Columbia University, Comcast and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She is part of the US State Department’s film diplomacy program, American Film Showcase and has traveled as a Film Envoy to Kazakhstan and Albania and provided film and educational programming to American embassies around the world. She has a B.A. from Columbia College of Columbia University and a J.D. from Cardozo Law.
Lara’s Work Has Appeared On…
Interviews
PBS.org POV
Swim Team: Why does this small town swim team matter?
Filmmaker Lara Stolman explains why the Jersey Hammerheads swim team is so unique.
Awards & Honors
2018 Winner, Christopher Award, “POV: Swim Team”
2018 Winner, Festival Favorite, Festival International Du Film Sur Les Handicaps, “Swim Team”
2018 Winner, Guirlande d’Honneur, FICTS, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Audience Award, Lighthouse International Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Award of Merit, Impact Docs Awards, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Best Cinematography, Wales International Doc Fest, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Best Documentary, Autfest International Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Human Spirit Award, Nashville Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, Jury Prize for Ethos, Social Impact Media Awards, “Swim Team”
2017 Winner, NJ Films Competition, Montclair Film, “Swim Team”
2016 Winner, Audience Award, Monmouth Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2016 Winner, Best New Jersey Film, Monmouth Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2016 Winner, Best Documentary over 60 Minutes, Picture This Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2016 Winner, Best Sports Documentary, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, “Swim Team”
2002 Winner, Cine Golden Eagle, “Portraits of Survival”
1995 Winner, New York Festivals Silver Medal, “The Hollywood Fashion Machine”
Production Company
Woodland Park Productions is a multi-media production company. Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Lara Stolman, we specialize in artful and intimate character-driven storytelling that illuminates, inspires and features unforgettable personalities.
Follow on Twitter
Thank you @LaraStolman for taking the time to visit Ann Arbor Public Schools for a viewing of Swim Team the film. So honored and privileged to enter the lives of the amazing cast. Continued success!
