We are deeply saddened by the passing of longtime WMM filmmaker and dear friend, Allie Light, an artist, storyteller, and educator whose work had a deep impact on the lives of many independent filmmakers, students, and the audiences who saw her films.
Allie was a force of creativity and compassion, known for her generosity, humor, and unwavering belief in the power of women’s voices as well as her award-winning films. Together with her partner, the late Irving Saraf, Allie created a remarkable body of work that gave visibility and dignity to women’s stories often left untold. Their film IN THE SHADOW OF THE STARS won the 1991 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and she later received a National Emmy Award for DIALOGUES WITH MADWOMEN — a groundbreaking exploration of women and mental health that continues to resonate today.
Over the years, she and Irving made many unforgettable films, including RACHEL’S DAUGHTERS: SEARCHING FOR THE CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER, MITSUYE AND NELLIE, and BLIND SPOT: MURDER BY WOMEN. Beyond film, Allie was also a gifted poet and editor, authoring The Glittering Cave and editing Poetry from Violence, an anthology of women’s writings.
Allie was an active member of the San Francisco film community and was known for her generosity and mentoring. As Gary Meyer, founder of Landmark theatres and co-Director of the Telluride Film Festival, said when interviewed about her, “When you went to a film festival, she was always surrounded by other filmmakers. She had influenced so many of them, and they just loved being in her presence.”
Allie and Irving deeply cherished Women Make Movies and often shared how much they valued being part of our community. We are honored to have worked alongside her and to distribute 5 of the films that carry her vision forward. She will be profoundly missed.
