# Beth Levison

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{{short description|American documentary film producer and director}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Beth Levison
| image              = Beth Levison Academy Awards.jpg
| caption            = Beth Levison at the Academy Awards, 2023
| birth_name         = 
| othername          = 
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = [Pittsfield, Massachusetts](/source/Pittsfield%2C_Massachusetts), U.S.
| occupation         = {{csv|Producer|director|}}
| notable_works      = 
| years_active       = 1993–present
| spouse             = Henry Sidel
}}

'''Beth Levison''' is an Academy Award-nominated American independent [documentary film](/source/documentary_film) producer and director based in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wamc.org/community-calendar/event/storm-lake-screening-and-q-a-with-director-beth-levison-17-01-2022-09-55-56|title=Storm Lake: Screening and Q&A with Director Beth Levison|website=wamc.org|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref><ref name=sarahlawrence>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/faculty/levison-beth.html|title=Beth Levison|website=sarahlawrence.edu|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref> Previously, she had a career in unscripted television.
==Life and career==
Levison was born in [Pittsfield, Massachusetts](/source/Pittsfield%2C_Massachusetts) and went to [Middlebury College](/source/Middlebury_College).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ruralintelligence.com/arts/biff-thinks-globally-presents-locally-3|title=BIFF THINKS GLOBALLY, PRESENTS LOCALLY|website=ruralintelligence.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sva.edu/faculty/beth-levison|title=BIFF THINKS GLOBALLY, PRESENTS LOCALLY|website=ruralintelligence.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref> 

Her most recently-completed producing effort, ''[A Photographic Memory](/source/A_Photographic_Memory)'', won the 2025 [Independent Spirits](/source/40th_Independent_Spirit_Awards): Truer Than Fiction Award and was acquired for distribution by [Kino Lorber](/source/Kino_Lorber).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/2025-independent-spirit-awards-2025-winners-list-1236316423/|title=Spirit Awards Winners List: ‘Anora’ Wins Big, Taking Home Best Feature, Lead Performance and Director|website=variety.com|access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/the-martha-mitchell-effect-netflix-documentary-directors-anne-alvergue-debra-mcclutchy-interview-news-1235199661/|title=Oscar-Contending Documentary ‘The Martha Mitchell Effect’ Redeems A Watergate Figure Victimized In A Gaslighting Campaign|website=deadline.com|access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref> Previous to that, she produced ''[The Martha Mitchell Effect](/source/The_Martha_Mitchell_Effect)'', about Watergate whistleblower and Republican cabinet wife Martha Mitchell, which premiered at the 2022 [Sundance Film Festival](/source/Sundance_Film_Festival), launched on [Netflix](/source/Netflix), and was nominated for a 2023 [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Awards) (Best Documentary Short category). ''[Storm Lake](/source/Storm_Lake_(film))'', which she directed alongside DP Jerry Risius and also produced, premiered at the [Full Frame Documentary Film Festival](/source/Full_Frame_Documentary_Film_Festival), broadcast on PBS’s ''[Independent Lens](/source/Independent_Lens)'' in 2022, and was nominated for a [Peabody Award](/source/Peabody_Awards) and a 2022 [News and Documentary Emmy Award](/source/News_and_Documentary_Emmy_Awards).<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2022 |title=Peabody Nominations Include 'Summer Of Soul', 'Reservation Dogs', 'Colin In Black & White', 'Dopesick', 'Hacks' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/2022-peabody-awards-nominations-list-1235001179/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)}}</ref>  Her other producing credits include ''Women in Blue'' (''Independent Lens'', 2021), News and Documentary Emmy-nominated ''Made in Boise'' (''Independent Lens'', 2020), News and Documentary Emmy-nominated ''Personal Statement'' (PBS, 2018), and ''32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide'' ([HBO](/source/HBO), 2017).

Her executive producer credits include ''Land with No Rider'', which premiered at the 2025 [True/False Film Festival](/source/True%2FFalse_Film_Festival), the two-time  [British Independent Film Award](/source/British_Independent_Film_Awards) winner ''[Grand Theft Hamlet](/source/Grand_Theft_Hamlet)'' (2024) now streaming on [MUBI](/source/Mubi_(streaming_service)),  ''[My Sweet Land](/source/My_Sweet_Land)'' (2024) and ''With Peter Bradley'' ([Slamdance](/source/Slamdance_Film_Festival) 2023).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/how-the-uk-first-time-directors-of-grand-theft-hamlet-made-a-film-within-a-game/5191854.article|title=How the UK first-time directors of ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ made a film within a game|website=screendaily.com|access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref>

Levison is the founder of Hazel Pictures and the co-founder of the Documentary Producers Alliance.<ref name=sarahlawrence/> She is a member of the [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](/source/Academy_of_Motion_Picture_Arts_and_Sciences), was producing faculty with the [School of Visual Arts](/source/School_of_Visual_Arts)’ Social Documentary Film Program from 2014-2020, and currently teaches as guest faculty at [Sarah Lawrence College](/source/Sarah_Lawrence_College).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.oscars.org/newmembers2019/|title=GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP AT A GLANCE|website=app.oscars.org|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref><ref name=sarahlawrence/>

==Selected filmography==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year
!Title
! Contribution
! Note
|-
|| 2025
| ''Land with No Rider''
| Executive producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2024
| ''Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World?''
| Line producer
| Documentary Series
|-
|| 2024
| ''After the Deluge''
| Executive producer
| Short film
|-
|| 2024
| ''[My Sweet Land](/source/My_Sweet_Land)''
| Executive producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2024
| ''[Grand Theft Hamlet](/source/Grand_Theft_Hamlet)''
| Executive producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2024
| ''[A Photographic Memory](/source/A_Photographic_Memory)''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2023
| ''With Peter Bradley''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2022
| ''[The Martha Mitchell Effect](/source/The_Martha_Mitchell_Effect)''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2021
| ''[Storm Lake](/source/Storm_Lake_(film))''
| Director and producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2021
| ''Women in Blue''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2021
| ''Charm Circle''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2019
| ''Made in Boise''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2019
| ''The Boxers of Brule''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2019
| ''[Cooked: Survival by Zip Code](/source/Cooked%3A_Survival_by_Zip_Code)''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2018
| ''In the Land of Pomegranates''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2018
| ''Personal Statement''
| Co-producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2017
| ''32 Pills: My Sister's Suicide''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2015
| ''The Trials of Spring''
| Producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2012
| ''Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present''
| Consulting producer
| Documentary
|-
|| 2011
| ''Lemon''
| Director and producer
| Documentary
|-
|-
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Result
!Award
!Category
!Work
!Ref.
|-
|2023
|style="background: #ffdddd"|Nominated
|[Academy Awards](/source/Academy_Awards)
|[Best Documentary Short Film](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Documentary_Short_Film)
|''[The Martha Mitchell Effect](/source/The_Martha_Mitchell_Effect)''
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|2021
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|[AFI Docs Festival](/source/AFI_Docs)
|Audience Award
|rowspan="3"|''[Storm Lake](/source/Storm_Lake_(film))''
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afi.com/news/afi-docs-announces-2021-award-winners/|title=AFI DOCS Announces 2021 Award Winners|website=afi.com|date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|[Provincetown International Film Festival](/source/Provincetown_International_Film_Festival)
|NYWIFT Award
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.provincetownfilm.org/blog/2021/06/28/provincetown-international-film-festival-announces-2021-winners/|title=PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2021 WINNERS|website=provincetownfilm.org|date=28 June 2021 |access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|[Woodstock Film Festival](/source/Woodstock_Film_Festival)
|Best Documentary Feature
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2021-maverick-awards|title=22ND ANNUAL WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL|website=woodstockfilmfestival.org|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|[Oaxaca FilmFest](/source/Oaxaca_FilmFest)
|Best Documentary Feature
|rowspan="4"|''Lemon''
|
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|[Miami Film Festival](/source/Miami_International_Film_Festival)
|Best Documentary Feature
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://miamifilmfestival.com/press/official-lineup-of-29th-annual-miami-international-film-festival-of-miami-dade-college-to-include-star-studded-premieres-parties-and-major-industry-events/|title=Official Lineup of 29th Annual Miami International Film Festival of Miami Dade College to Include Star-Studded Premieres, Parties and Major Industry Events|website=miamifilmfestival.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|[Zurich Film Festival](/source/Zurich_Film_Festival)
|International Documentary Film
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zff.com/en/festival-info/news/2011/473/competition-winners-have-been-announced/|title=COMPETITION WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED|website=zff.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|[Doc NYC](/source/Doc_NYC)
|Special Jury Prize
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.docnyc.net/featured/and-the-winner-is/|title=AND THE WINNER IS…|website=docnyc.net|date=9 November 2011 |access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|rowspan="3"|[Primetime Emmy Awards](/source/Primetime_Emmy_Awards)
|rowspan="3"|[Outstanding Children's Program](/source/Primetime_Emmy_Award_for_Outstanding_Children's_Program)
|''A Child's Garden of Poetry''
|rowspan="3"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/beth-levison|title=Beth Levison|website=emmys.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}</ref>
|-
|2006
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|rowspan="2"|''[Classical Baby](/source/Classical_Baby)''
|-
|2005
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|-
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1109901|Beth Levison}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Levison, Beth}}
Category:Living people
Category:American documentary film producers
Category:American documentary film directors
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American women documentary filmmakers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beth Levison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Levison) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Levison?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.