Olivia Newman

Olivia Newman
Born
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationVassar College (AB)
Columbia University (MFA)
Occupation(s)Film director, writer, producer
Years active2009–present
SpouseSteve Lehman

Olivia Newman is an American film director and screenwriter.[1][2] She is best known for directing First Match (2018) and Where the Crawdads Sing (2022).[3]

Life and career

Newman was born in Hoboken, New Jersey and graduated from The Hudson School in 1996.[4] She holds an A.B. in French and women's studies from Vassar College and an M.F.A. in film from Columbia University.[5][6] Her first short film, Blue-Eyed Mary, was shown at the Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival in 2010.[7]

Newman made her feature directorial debut with the drama film First Match starring Elvire Emanuelle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo and Jharrel Jerome, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. First Match was released by Netflix in 2018.[8]

She directed the 2022 mystery thriller film Where The Crawdads Sing, an adaptation of the 2018 novel of the same name by Delia Owens.[9][10] Despite mixed reviews from critics, audience reception was more positive and the film subsequently became a sleeper hit at the box-office, grossing $140 million on a $24 million budget.

Filmography

Short film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2009 Blue-Eyed Mary Yes No No
2010 First Match Yes Yes No
Storm Up the Sky No No Yes
2011 The Runner No No Yes
2012 Lucky Duck No No Yes

Feature film

Year Title Director Writer
2018 First Match Yes Yes
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Yes No

Television

Year Title Notes
2019 Chicago Fire Episodes "What Will Define You", "Move a Wall", "Badlands" and "Mercy"
2020 FBI Episode "Broken Promises"
2023 The Last Thing He Told Me Miniseries

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2012 New Jersey Film Festival Grand Prize Won [11]
Aspen Shortsfest Jury Award Won [12]
2018 SXSW Film Festival SXSW Gamechanger Award Won [13]
Audience Award Won [14]

References

  1. ^ "Interview: Olivia Newman – First Match - 2015 January Screenwriters Lab". ioncinema.com. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  2. ^ "Interview: Olivia Newman on Getting the Best of Wrestling with "First Match"". moveablefest.com. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  3. ^ "'First Match' Review: SXSW Audience Winner Wrestles With Real-Life Struggles And Comes Out A Winner For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  4. ^ Alumni, The Hudson School. Accessed November 15, 2022. "Olivia Newman graduated from the Upper School in 1996, the second ever high school graduating class."
  5. ^ "In the Media - March 2018 Roundup". alums.vassar.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  6. ^ "Olivia Newman". tfiny.org. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  7. ^ "2010 Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival (POW!): Official Lineup". undergroundfilmjournal.com. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  8. ^ "'First Match' by Olivia Newman '12 Premiered on Netflix to Much Acclaim". arts.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  9. ^ "3000 Pictures & Hello Sunshine's 'Where The Crawdads Sing' Sets Olivia Newman As Director". Deadline Hollywood. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  10. ^ "Everything we know about Where the Crawdads Sing film adaptation". uk.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  11. ^ "Winners of the 2012 New Jersey International Film Festival Competition". njfilmfest.com. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  12. ^ "Olivia Newman (USA)". cqnl.org. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  13. ^ "2018 SXSW Film Festival Announces Jury and Special Awards". sxsw.com. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  14. ^ "2018 SXSW Film Festival Announces Audience Awards Winners". sxsw.com. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-20.