Eddie Schmidt is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, writer/producer, and commentator, as well as the Board President of the International Documentary Association (IDA).
Feature credits include producing, co-writing, and shooting the acclaimed IFC documentary THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED, producing and shooting HBO’s powerful TWIST OF FAITH (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award), and producing the groundbreaking teenage mosaic CHAIN CAMERA. All three films were released theatrically and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Television credits include producing HBO’s doc musical SHOWGIRLS: GLITZ & ANGST, and producing, directing & writing the E! comedy series WILDEST TV SHOW MOMENTS. Schmidt recently produced & directed a pilot for HBO/Lionsgate, a pair of digital shorts for AdultSwim.com, and is currently producing & directing an hour-long doc/reality special for E!
As a commentator, Schmidt has been heard on NPR’s THIS AMERICAN LIFE, and seen on MSNBC, IFC, and The Reelz Channel. He is featured in the Starz documentaries IN THE GUTTER (alongside filmmaking hero John Waters) and SEX AND THE CINEMA, and has made multiple appearances on G4’s ATTACK OF THE SHOW.
Schmidt is also the proud co-author of THE FINGER: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO FLIPPING OFF, a definitive history of the middle finger gesture and its place in popular culture. He later wrote, directed & produced a pilot for IFC based on the book.
During the latter half of 2008, Schmidt served as the interim Executive Director of IDA (International Documentary Association), where he oversaw the 2008 IDA Documentary Awards, the DocuWeek Theatrical Showcase, the website documentary.org, and the magazine, Documentary. Upon returning to his seat on IDA’s Board of Directors, Schmidt was elected President. For IDA programs and events, visit documentary.org
Eddie Schmidt is a frequent guest speaker, moderator, and juror at film festivals, universities, and events, including the bi-annual Digital Hollywood conference; Film Independent’s Filmmaker Forum; the Los Angeles Film Festival; the Santa Barbara Film Festival; the Aspen Comedy Festival; and the University of Southern California. He is also a consultant for documentaries in various stages of development, production, and post.