Animated Documentary Director Steven Fischer Spoke at CEU
Fulbright Specialist Steven Fischer, currently posted at the Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen, screened his documentary “Freedom Dance” at Central European University on October 13th. The screening was co-sponsored by CEU’s Center for Arts and Culture (CAC). CAC Director Lilla Földy was a most welcoming host.
Steven Fischer is a two-time Emmy® nominated writer/producer and digital cinematographer of fiction, non-fiction, and animated stories. His credits include the films Freedom Dance (2007) featuring Mariska Hargitay and Old School New School (2010) with Brian Cox. In 2010, The Daily Record included Fischer on their list of 60 Influential Marylanders. His films have received numerous awards including: Two Emmy Award nominations, CINE Masters Series Award, 7 Telly Awards, 2 CINE Golden Eagle Awards, and 2 Gold Remi Awards. Fischer is a Fulbright recipient in Hungary, and sought internationally to speak on creativity.
Freedom Dance (animated documentary, 29 mins, 2007) documents four months in the lives of artist Edward Hilbert and his wife, Judy, as refugees defiantly leaving Communist Hungary during the violent 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Along the way, Edward kept a journal in cartoon form detailing a trip defined by adventure. This animated documentary attempts to re-tell the Hilberts’ eventful escape by inter-cutting original character-driven animation with recorded interviews and photographs.
Discussion followed with Steven Fischer director, Fulbright Alum (’06 New York University) Csaba Békés historian (Hungarian Academy of Science, Corvinus University of Budapest), and Brigitta Iványi-Bitter art historian (MOME Animation) moderated by Károly Jókay (Executive Director of the US-Hungary Fulbright Commission).