lystn

We knew that Lance Oppenheim was a gifted storyteller from the moment his first submissions arrived in 2014. His two documentaries that year, “The Dogmatic” and “Quicksand” illuminated a remarkably grounded and resonant cinematic voice - a voice capable of harnessing the inherent emotional weight of his subjects regardless of their topical diversity. Both docs leave considerable scars on the viewer, at times delicately intimate, at others, exposed and invading, but regardless of their tone, consistent in leaving their mark in ways not easily shaken.

His ability to create a coercive atmosphere through imagery and score elevated his early work to a level unmatched by his peers. The dichotomy of his thematic presentation provided a treasure chest of depth, seamlessly pivoting from tenderness to brutality, from personal to universal, from subtle to profound, often without any overt insinuation of subtext. Lance welcomes the abstract, a brave choice for such a young storyteller, and his willingness to employ elements of experimentation steals the show in welcome ways. This fearlessness also pervades his subject matter - Lance will go there, unafraid, wide-eyed and open minded, no matter how dangerous or personal a story may be. He is brave in his quest to capture and share… his stories live and breathe, and they are terrifying and comforting in their ability to accurately and honestly communicate experience.

In Lance’s films, action and intimacy coexist in harmony - with tension and tenderness colliding in compelling ways. This is documentary filmmaking at its most engaging in every aspect: the invigorating edit, the dynamic moods, the visionary approach to direction… You watch his films with a lump in your throat and a wild, beating heart but always with something overwhelming and unraveling within. Indeed his films leave scars, marks that will linger like a part of you for a long time…

Watching Lance’s talents mature is inspiring, but certainly not unexpected. His impressive resume now includes several New York Times Op-Docs and most recently a Sundance Film Festival Official Selection produced by Darren Aronovsky and the New York Times. Oh yes, our alumni have arrived and the world is taking notice!

For more info: www.lanceoppenheim.com