INTERCULTURAL

LEADERS

Jean Marie Offenbacher

Mentors

I have been a guest lecturer at universities throughout the United States and at intercultural institutions abroad – screening and discussing my award winning first documentary, TEA ON THE AXIS OF EVIL, which I filmed throughout Syria over three years. I address political science, international studies, religion, media and gender studies departments Currently I am completing a feature documentary about an environmental art project in the South Bronx. Longterm projects include the documentaries: NAWAL'S FEAST, which I filmed in Iraq and is about the history, sociology and preparation of Mesopotamian cuisine; and THE ALGERIAN CANDIDATE, which I filmed in Algeria and Tunisia--a film that explores concepts of Arab identity outside of the Arabian peninsula. Initially I experienced filmmaking as an artist of 16mm experimental films. My professional film career was mainly in post production on studio feature films including “Reversal of Fortune” with Glenn Close, “American Heart” with Jeff Bridges and “The Rapture” with David Duchovny. I also worked also on Ken Burns' documentary “Thomas Hart Benton” (assistant picture editor and sound editor). Additionally I worked on various projects for European production companies as a local New York liaison, hiring crew, location scouting, clearing permits, and researching archival film. Political artwork I created for Women's Action Coalition toured museums throughout Germany in the mid-nineties. To support art and film projects I worked as a marketing consultant to hedge funds from 1997 to 2013, writing marketing copy, designing graphics and presentations, and coaching fund managers for public speaking. I graduated from New York University with honors in Philosophy and Film, and pursued post-graduate work in Anthropology at Columbia University.