Theresa Bucci Receives October Filmmaker of the Month Distinction

Monday, October 1, 2012

The District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is pleased to recognize Theresa Bucci, documentary filmmaker specializing in short films about social causes, as the October 2012 Filmmaker of the Month.

Washington DC based filmmaker Theresa Bucci specializes in the production of online video storytelling campaigns for nonprofits and other social causes. After backpacking through Asia for six months and volunteering with a learning center for relocated refugees, Theresa developed a special affinity for both international and women's issues that are often showcased in her films.

One of her recent films, Finding a Way Home, is the story of a woman named Katrina, who finds a safe space at local women's shelter, called N Street Village, as she struggles to get back on her feet physically, mentally and emotionally after becoming homeless. Her powerful story and poignant way of telling it, reminds us that anyone can fall on hard times but gives us hope that places like N Street Village are there to help pick us back up.

Some of Theresa's current film projects include Bikes for the World: a short documentary film, currently in post-production, about a local nonprofit that collects bicycles and delivers them to community programs in developing countries where they provide work and affordable transportation for people; an untitled film about women's involvement in the peace process: a short documentary, currently in development, that shows women have the capacity to play a critical role in peacekeeping operations told through the story of a woman who survived raids and witnessed her friends being raped and tortured when she was a child; and two narrative shorts with other local DC filmmakers and her brother filmmaker JJ Bucci.

She has previously worked in the journalism industry as a video production specialist for the Milwaukee-based broadcast company, Journal Communications. She most recently completed the backpack journalism course from Emmy award-winning journalist Bill Gentile, where her film was voted "best in the class" among other talented journalists and filmmakers. She currently resides in ward 6 of the District of Columbia.

You can follow Theresa on Twitter @VideoDC or her Facebook page for updates on all her recent and current work.

The DC Film Office launched the Filmmaker of the Month initiative to feature a District-based filmmaker who exemplifies the vast amount of talent and creativity based here in the nation’s capital. The Filmmaker of the Month initiative is part of its mission to elevate the national and international profile of the city’s most talented filmmakers. Previous filmmakers honored include Línea Directa producer and documentary filmmaker Eduardo López, Emmy award-winning videographer and owner of Metro Teleproductions Dave Lilling, Jezebel Filmworks’ founder Ada Babino, and Emmy award-winning filmmaker and founder of Video/Action Robin Smith.

You can visit the Filmmaker of the Month section to learn more about Theresa and previous Filmmakers of the Month recipients.