Cindy Burstein

My award-winning documentary Concrete, Steel & Paint, about a remarkable journey of men in prison and victims of crime, demonstrates the power of art as a catalyst to bridge difference and inspire common ground through dialogue about harm, accountability and social responsibility. The film garnered major funding from the Ford Foundation and festival accolades for Best Documentary, Best Director, and Social Justice Achievement. Selected to tour in the American Film Showcase - a premiere American film diplomacy program sponsored by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, the film is a testament to the power of media to nurture empathy and understanding across cultures.

My commitment to an arts practice that connects media making and community building is also demonstrated by my ten years as a National Engagement Consultant for the Independent Television Service (ITVS) Community Connections Project and Community Cinema Program—a groundbreaking public education and civic engagement initiative featuring social issue documentaries from the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens. Additionally, I’ve launched impact initiatives for cutting-edge films bolstering tolerance and equity, including Sandi DuBowski's unprecedented feature, Trembling Before G-d.

I’m honored to be a recipient of an Independence Foundation Artist Fellowship and Leeway Foundation Transformation Award—recognizing women artists engaged in social change. As an Adjunct Professor in Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication I'm privileged to share my values with students. As a member-owner of the filmmaker-run distribution co-operative, New Day Films I am reminded everyday that collective power builds strength of character and deep respect for humanity.