Biography

David Shapiro has been a prolific filmmaker and visual artist for over twenty years. He wrote, produced, and shares a film by credit for FINISHING HEAVEN (HBO, 2009), for which he was nominated for a 2010 Emmy as producer. The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2009. Shapiro co-directed, wrote and produced KEEP THE RIVER ON YOUR RIGHT. The film had its international premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2000. Based on Tobias Schneebaum's book, the film went on to play in over 37 international film festivals winning many major awards, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best New Director (2001), the Special Jury Award at IDFA (2000), Best Documentary Feature at the Hamptons Film festival (2000) and a Special Critics Award At LAFF (2000). It was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Shapiro's visual art has been exhibited extensively in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including shows at MoMA, the Tate, the Norton and the Brooklyn Museum. His work is included in many prominent collections, including the Tate, the Whitney and the collection of Beth Rudin DeWoody. Shapiro's film, MISSING PEOPLE (2015) has its world premiere as an official selection of the 2015 Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival. David lives and works in Queens, New York.