Frances Reid

Frances Reid has been shooting, directing, and producing documentary films for more than 30 years. Many of her films have gained international acclaim; her first award was received as early as 1977. Her film, IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN, a then groundbreaking examination of lesbian mothers and the question of child custody, was awarded a Blue Ribbon at the American Film Festival. Reid’s 1992 film, THE FACES OF AIDS won First Place at the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and in 1994, her documentary short STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1995, Reid produced and directed SKIN DEEP, an exploration of race relations on college campuses. The film was broadcast nationally on PBS and is now in use by nearly 2,000 colleges and universities in the US.

Some of Reid’s cinematography credits include: THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK, VISIONS OF THE SPIRIT, THE RIDE TO WOUNDED KNEE, and REN’S KIDS. Reid has worked with Deborah Hoffmann on the award-winning films, COMPLAINTS OF A DUTIFUL DAUGHTER and LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY: SOUTH AFRICA’S SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY also earned a 2001 Academy Award nomination and the Spirit of Freedom award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. Reid travels extensively with her films; lecturing on filmmaking and cinematography. She served on the Grand Jury for the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. She is also the recipient of the James Phelan Art Award in Video and is one of the original members of Iris Films, founded in 1975. (8/12)

Greetings from Washington DC
A film by Rob Epstein, Frances Reid, Greta Schiller and Lucy Winer, 1981, 28 min.
A kaleidoscope of music, dance, stories and laughter shared at the first gay and lesbian rights march on Washington....

In the Best Interests of the Children
A film by Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens and Cathy Zheutlin, 1977, 53 min.
This groundbreaking film on lesbian mothering portrays the diversity of experience, race and class among eight lesbian mothers and their children....