Maria Finitzo is a two-time Peabody award winning social-issue documentary filmmaker. She has been producing and directing documentary films for network television, public broadcasting, cable TV and the Internet for more than 25 years. Her body of work has been honored by every major broadcast award granted to documentary films.

Ms. Finitzo's films demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise, tackling a wide variety of subjects including the controversial science of stem cell research, the command and control of nuclear weapons on an international level, and the complex psychology of adolescent girls.

As an Associate of Kartemquin Films, Maria has mentored emerging filmmakers, supported student learning through our robust internship program and engaged the public in the range of issues her films address through the national outreach campaigns that accompany them. Each of her films produced in collaboration with Kartemquin Films has been the centerpiece for major symposiums. They are used by universities across the country as teaching tools and have been the focus of targeted community screenings both nationally and internationally.

As a board member of Kartemquin Films, Maria provides institutional leadership, ensuring the longevity of the organization and the fulfillment of its mission to develop documentary film as a vehicle to deepen our understanding of society through everyday human drama.

Three years ago, Maria returned to graduate school to further her education as a filmmaker and educator. In June of 2008, she was awarded an MFA from Northwestern University in Writing for the Stage and Screen. Life Lessons will be her first fiction film from her original screenplay.