Author, Documentary Filmmaker
|
Joe Gantz is a writer and documentary filmmaker known for examining personal stories with honesty, humor, and depth. He is the producer of Taxicab Confessions, which was on HBO for 16 years, as well as many feature length documentaries, including American Winter, Ending Disease and The Race to Save the World.
Joe has won an Emmy for best documentary film and been nominated four times. He was shortlisted for the prestigious Ridenhour Documentary film prize, given annually in recognition of those "who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest, promote social justice or illuminate a more just vision of society". Joe has received a Sidney Award for Excellence in Journalism for the Common Good, and a Bending Toward Justice Award from Senator Jeff Merkley. Over his long career Joe’s goal has been to capture “life in progress”, showing authentic and relatable stories that allow viewers to see controversial issues with compassion and understanding. |
The Race to Save the World: The Race to Save The World is an urgent and intimate portrait of the protests, arrests, courtroom drama, and family turmoil these climate activists endure as they push for change. This film is an energizing call-to-action that inspires viewers to quit waiting on the sidelines and join the fight to protect all life on this planet.
"The fight to halt the destruction of the planet's climate system may be the biggest movement in earth history, and these brave people help tell a tale everyone needs to hear!" |
“The Race to Save the World shows us that passion and commitment is alive and well, with diverse people - from teens to grandmas - engaging in the time honored tradition of protest and civil disobedience to combat the climate crisis. I hope everyone will watch this film and be inspired to join these everyday heroes in the struggle of our lifetime.” |
Ending Disease is a film about the first generation of clinical trials for stem cell and regenerative medicine, which are transforming medicine from a lifetime of treatments to one-time cures for a whole host of debilitating diseases. For the first time in history there are cures to many diseases, some of which previously there weren’t even any treatments for.
“A tremendously important film.” |
“Gantz expertly balances the importance of science with the emotions and humanity of family members facing life-threatening illnesses in a way that few other narratives or documentaries have.” |
American Winter, which aired on HBO is about the human impact of poverty and a shrinking middle class in America. The film had a big part in the movement to raise the minimum wage across the United States. Filmed over the course of one winter in Portland, Oregon, American Winter presents an intimate and emotionally evocative snapshot of the state of our economy as it is playing out in many American families.
"Powerful and timely" |
"Finally, a movie has arrived that shows the precariousness of the US economy for the majority of Americans, refusing to distinguish between a deserving and non-deserving poor" - Greg Kaufman, The Nation |
The inaugural episode of the Taxicab Confessions series, premiered on HBO in January 1995 and went on to win an Emmy Award. Far ahead of its time, this show allowed viewers to watch as unsuspecting cab riders in New York City revealed their most vulnerable and authentic selves. Among the late night characters who told deeply personal stories from their lives, there were many memorable rides from gay, lesbian and transgender passengers talking about their experiences at a time when the LGBT community was not represented honestly anywhere else on television. This HBO series ushered in both the current reality TV craze and a level of confessional, sincere discourse the likes of which hasn’t been seen since.
“The Profane becomes profound as face-value assumptions are continually confounded by unexpected depth” |
“Taxicab Confessions is quite possibly the most spiritual and the most sensual show on television” |
