Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Born 1979/1980 (age 38–39)
Other names Chai Vasarhelyi
E. Chai Vasarhelyi
Years active 2003-present
Spouse(s) Jimmy Chin
Children 2
Website Official website

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (born c. 1979/1980)[1] is a documentary filmmaker.

Early life and education

Vasarhelyi grew up in New York City. She is the daughter of Marina Vasarhelyi, a college administrator, and Miklos Vasarhelyi, a college professor.[1]

Vasarhelyi is a graduate of The Brearley School. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University.

Career

Vasarhelyi worked as assistant to director Mike Nichols on the film Closer and has worked extensively with Emmy-Award-winning cinematographer Scott Duncan documenting events such as the Dakar Rally.

Vasarhelyi's films as a director include the highest grossing independent documentary film of 2015, Meru (Oscars Shortlist 2016; Sundance Audience Award 2015); the upcoming Incorruptible (Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award 2016); Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (Oscilloscope, 2009), which premiered at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals; A Normal Life (Tribeca Film Festival, Best Documentary, 2003) and Touba (SXSW, Special Jury Prize Best Cinematography, 2013).

Vasarhelyi has received grants from the Sundance Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Bertha Britdoc, the William and Mary Greve Foundation and the National Endowment of the Arts.

Vasarhelyi was selected as a 2013 Sundance Documentary Film Fellow, named one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film in 2005 [4] and received an Achievement Award from Creative Visions foundation in 2008.

Vasarhelyi and Chin's 2018 film Free Solo won the People's Choice Award: Documentaries at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.[2]

Personal life

Vasarhelyi married Jimmy Chin, a photographer for National Geographic and a professional skier and climber, on June 1, 2013.[1] Their daughter, Marina, was born on September 25, 2013 and their son, James, was born on December 7, 2015. Vasarhelyi lives in New York City with her family.

Awards

  • 2003: Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Feature for A Normal Life
  • 2008: Middle East International Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: International Documentary Association Pare Lorentz Award (nominee) for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: Bahamas International Film Festival Audience Award for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: Bahamas International Film Festival Spirit of Freedom Award for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: DC International Film Festival Audience Award for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: São Paulo International Film Festival Audience Award for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2008: Nashville Film Festival Music of Impact Award for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • Toronto International Film Festival Special Presentation for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
  • 2013: SXSW Special Jury Prize for Best Cinematography for Touba
  • 2015: Independent Spirit Truer Than Fiction Award Winner for Incorruptible
  • 2015: Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary for Incorruptible
  • 2015: One World Film Festival Václav Havel Jury Award for Incorruptible
  • 2015: Oscar Shortlist for Best Documentary Feature for Meru
  • 2015: Sundance Audience Award Winner for Meru
  • 2015: Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best Documentary for Meru
  • 2015: DGA Award Nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for Meru
  • 2015: PGA Award Nomination for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures for Meru
  • 2015: Cinema Eye Honors Audience Choice Prize Winner for Meru
  • 2015: Cinema Eye Honors Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Meru
  • 2015: Cinema Eye Honors Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Production for Meru
  • 2015: Cinema Eye Honors Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score for Meru
  • 2015: The New York Times, Critics' Pick for Meru
  • 2016: Oscar's Shortlist for Meru

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Elizabeth Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin - Weddings". The New York Times. 26 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "TIFF 2018 Awards: ‘Green Book’ Wins the People’s Choice Award, Upsetting ‘A Star Is Born’". IndieWire, September 16, 2018.
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