Jeremiah Zagar - HZ Films

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For a number of years this was HZ Films website created to promote Jeremiah Zagar's films and in particular the documentary, In A Dream.
Content is from the site's archived pages and other outside sources.
The new owner of the domain has chosen to keep a select amount of the original content.

Jeremiah Zagar is a director and editor based in New York City and co-founder of Herzliya Films. His feature-length documentary In A Dream was broadcast on HBO as well as various TV stations internationally. It was distributed in theaters all over the country by IndiePix. The film screened in festivals world-wide, winning awards at the SXSW, Full Frame, Biografilm and San Francisco Documentary festivals among others. In A Dream was shortlisted for an Academy Award and received two 2010 Emmy nominations, including ‘Best Documentary.’

Zagar recently creative-directed seven short films about global childhood malnutrition for Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres. The series premiered at the NYTimes Center and has been shown in galleries around the world.

 

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Zagar’s other films as director include Delhi House (KQED, Slamdance), Coney Island, 1945 (Tribeca, SXSW) and Baby Eat Baby. Editorial credits include the feature films Orgasm, Inc and Welcome to Shelbyville as well as theatrical trailers for Sundance-winner Restrepo, The English Surgeon & One In A Billion.

Director (15 credits)
 2014 7 Deadly Sins (TV Series documentary) (1 episode)
- Gluttony (2014)
 2014 Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (Documentary)
 2012 Always a Fire (Documentary short)
 2012 Flatline (Documentary short)
 2012 Heart Stop Beating (Short)
 2012 Alagoas: Brighton (Video short)
 2011/I Remains (Short) (co-director)
 2011 Starved for Attention (TV Mini-Series documentary) (creative director)
 2010 Starved for Attention: Burkina Faso (Video documentary short) (collaborating director)
 2010 Starved for Attention: Mexico (Video documentary short) (collaborating director)
 2010 Starved for Attention: USA (Video documentary short) (collaborating director)
 2008 In a Dream (Documentary)
 2008 Paints on Ceiling (Short)
 2005 Coney Island 1945 (Short)
 2004 Baby Eat Baby (Short)

 

 

REMAINS is a film about a man's memories of his wife. We see snapshots of these memories; we are a fingertip running through hair, a foot plunging into the ocean, a swaying tree branch. The film is comprised of sound design, years of recorded voice messages, and macro photography. It explores memory by transcribing that which is tactile into that which is visual. The messages become fading imprints and remainders; the rust rather than the iron, the fossil rather than the bone. REMAINS asks the question, how does one remember touch and what is the emotional impact of those memories.

Director(s): Jeremiah Zagar, Nathan Caswell

Producer(s): Jeremy Yaches

Screenwriter(s): Matt Lombardi

Cinematographer: Erik Messerschmidt

Editor(s): Nathan Caswell, Jeremiah Zagar

Sound Designer: Eric Milano

Principal Cast: Noémie Videau, Shauna Pinkett, Ciaran Byrne, Valery Upson, Samia Rose Beeks-Stewart

 

Nathan and Jeremiah met as film students at Emerson College. Their first collaboration was The Unbelievable Truth which premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. Nathan currently directs and edits commercials. Jeremiah’s feature-length documentary In A Dream premiered at SXSW, was broadcast on HBO and garnered two Emmy nominations.

 

'In A Dream'

Over the past four decades, artist Isaiah Zagar has covered more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning mosaic murals. In A Dream chronicles his work and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Julia. It follows the Zagars as their marriage implodes and a harrowing new chapter in their life unfolds.

 

In A Dream, a film by Jeremiah Zagar

Synopsis
In the vibrant, bohemian neighborhood of South Philadelphia, 50,000
-square feet of concrete are covered with tile and mirrors—mosaics that were created by Isaiah Zagar, an eccentric, tormented artist.
The murals chronicle his love for his wife, Julia, and subtly hint at the darker corners of an extraordinary imagination.
Where Isaiah is obsessive and narcissistic—a former Peace Corps volunteer who has become an icon in South Philly's art community—Julia is gracious and warm.
For decades, their opposing natures complemented one another perfectly. But suddenly the family is torn apart at the seams: A few hours before picking up his oldest son from a
rehabilitation center, Isaiah declares to the camera, "As people get older they have less and less passion." He then confesses to an affair with his assistant, is kicked out of the house, and spirals into a debilitating, suicidal depression.
A fascinating portrait of love and betrayal, family bonds, and the intimacy of dysfunction.
Shot on 35mm, Hi Def, digital video; with 8mm and 16mm home movie footage. The soundtrack features music by the Books, Explosions in the Sky, Efterklang, and Kelli Scarr.

Director’s Statement
I started filming a documentary about my father in 1999, back when I thought of him and our
family as perfect. For the first few months, the footage was mostly garbage: I shot it poorly, and my father was painfully self-aware. That went on until later that year, when we traveled to our summer home in West Virginia. There, away from the distractions of the city, I asked him to tell me all of his secrets.
And he did. He told me about how he was molested as a child, how he tried to kill himself at the age of 29, and how he fell in love with my mother the night that he emerged from Pennsylvania
mental institution. As the interviews progressed, I began to realize there was a much larger movie to be made than I had originally envisioned. It was a strange feeling. Because although I had wanted it, I never expected see this man who I revered as the flawed and fragile person he actually is. When we returned home a week later, my father hugged me and cried in my arms.
Over the next four years, I traveled back and forth between Philadelphia and Boston, where I
was in college, filming my family whenever something significant happened—a birthday, a funeral, a lawsuit, one of my father’s mural workshops, whatever. And in April of 2005, everything changed. I went home to film my parents as they picked my brother up from rehab. The stress from the situation boiled over, and my father suddenly admitted to my mother and me that he had been having an affair with his assistant for the last three years. That same night, my parents separated for the first time in 43 years. I shot 16 hours that day and hated myself for every minute of it.
But I couldn’t stop shooting and somehow, three years later, the
movie is finished. What started as an exploration of my father’s life has exposed the secrets of our entire family. But I don’t think  that’s a bad thing. My parents are back together and my brother is recovering with the help of his fiancé and their infant
 son. We know now how imperfect we really are, but also how much we need
and love each other.

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2624
November 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 Docs Continue in 2008 Oscar® Race
Beverly Hills, CA
—
 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15
films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 81st Academy Awards®. A record 94 pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“At the Death House Door”
 “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
 “Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
 “Fuel”
“The Garden”
“Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts”
“I.O.U.S.A.”
“In a Dream”
  “Made in America”
“Man on Wire”
 “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”
“Standard Operating Procedure”
 “They Killed Sister Dorothy”
“Trouble the Water”
The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries f
or the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.
The 81st Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy ’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

MORNING SENTINEL
Sunday, July 13, 2008
By Colin Hickey
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE
—
 Film director Jeremiah Zagar relaxed sipping a margarita outside of Railroad Square Cinema on Saturday, less than seven hours removed from exposing his parents' tumultuous relationship to a theater full of strangers. Zagar, 26, could hardly contain his enthusiasm.
He is excited rather than embarrassed, he said, because the story he tells in the documentary "In a Dream" is a true depiction of a relationship, onewith every wart and blemish revealed.
(The second and final showing of the film is at 9:30 tonight at Waterville
Opera House.)
But behind the pain and suffering, he said, is a greater truth, a love story between a man and a woman who happen to be his parents.
"We are a very happy family," Zagar said, "and a very loving family, and a family that is very much stronger because of the movie."
The film's title, on one level, describes Zagar's emotion every time he sees "In a Dream" shown.
This is his dream come true, the realization of an ambition he's had for 20  years and the culmination of a project he began with close friend and producer Jeremy Yaches, 27, seven years ago.Zagar and Yaches, who grew up together in Philadelphia, are among the many filmmakers and actors attending the Maine International Film Festival this week.
They come because they love the medium in which they work and they relish the opportunity to see firsthand how others respond to their creations.
In the case of Zagar and Yaches, virtual infants in the world of professional filmmaking, the film festival is the latest proof that their artistic careers are gaining altitude. Other evidence abounds. Consider first that "In a Dream" captured the Best Film Award at the Philadelphia Film Festival and the Emerging Visions Audience Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
Consider, too, that HBO has bought the rights to the film and plans to air it sometime next year.
Still, Zagar will tell you that getting to this point took some doing. For years he depended on canned tuna for meals — straight out of the can, no bread, he added.
"People do it," he said of filmmaking, "because they love it. You do it because you have this deep hole inside of you that has to be filled all the ntime."
Zagar and Yaches started making movies together when they were 13 years old.
They both went on to attend college in Boston — Zagar at Emerson College, Yaches at Boston University.

 

Subject Bios

Isaiah Zagar is an American tile mosaic artist. Zagar holds a BA in Painting and Graphics from the Pratt Institute of Art. His awards include an NREA Fellowship in 1979 and a Pew Charitable Trust Individual Artist Fellowship Grant in 1995. Zagar was artist-in-residence in Tianjin, China in 1987, at the John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Program in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 2001 and in Delhi and Bagru, Rajistan in 2003.
Zagar has executed numerous public commissions in his quest to transform the city of Philadelphia, PA into a labyrinthine mosaic museum. They include the South Street Community Garden exterior mosaic wall in 1992, three story exterior mosaic facades at 610 S. 10th Street in 1994, the entrance to The Clay Studio at 139 N. 4th Street in 1997, the complete exterior of the Painted Bride Art Center at 230 Vine Street, completed in 1999, and an exterior mosaic
mural at Lombard and Jessup Street in 2003, to name but a few. Philadelphia's Magic Garden has been a work-in-progress since 1994, and as of 2005 is supported by a non-profit foundation whose aim is the preservation and education of Isaiah's donations to the landscape of Philadelphia.

Julia Zagar was born in New York City a long time ago. In New York she was educated at the high school of Music and Art, Cooper Union Art School and The Art students League.
In 1962 she began her love affair with Latin America; first in Mexico at the Universidad de las Americas and then with her husbandin the Peace Corps from 1964-1967 in Peru.
There they worked in craft development, product design and small industry growth.
The Zagars continued those same interests back in the U.S. with the opening of the Eyes Gallery in 1968 on South Street in Philadelphia.The Eyes Gallery has been in existence for 38 years and has led them into many projects; community building development, fighting the Cross Town Expressway and community garden works to name a few.
In 1997, Julia began Art and Soul Tours to bring Americans to experience the cultures of Mexico, Peru and India.
As a group, Art and Soul Tours has aided Latin American Museums, Co-operatives and individual artisans.
In February of 2008, she gave an eight part lecture on Mexican Folk Art during the Frida exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
She has two sons, two grandsons and a wonderful husband who has devoted his work life to mosaics in the South Street area and now around the US and even internationally.

 

 

In A Dream
a film by Jeremiah Zagar
produced by Herzliya Films in association with Red Light Films

9.11.06 - In A Dream was awarded a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

6.7.06 - Coney Island, 1945 will be screening at the World Wide Short Film Festival in Canada next week.

4.4.06 - Coney Island, 1945 will be screening at the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival, the Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival, the Indianapolis Int'l Film Festival and the Jacksonville Film Festival in the coming weeks.

2.16.06 - Coney Island, 1945 is scheduled to screen in March at the SXSW Film Festival.

Also, watch the trailer for The System is Broken, a feature-length documentary directed by Josh Banville.

1.23.06 - The teaser trailer for In A Dream is finished and available for viewing here. Let us know what you think.

9.27.05 - Coney Island, 1945 will screen at the The Hamptons Int'l Film Festival and the bfi London Film Festival.

2.14.05 - Herzliya Films produced music videos for: 
"Don't Stop" by Brazilian Girls and
"My Eyes Burn" by Matchbook Romance.

 

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More Background on HZFilms.com

HZFilms.com has played a significant role in the independent documentary film community, serving as a digital showcase for the work of filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar and his collaborators. While the website itself is no longer actively updated, its legacy endures through the films and projects it promoted, its impact on audiences and educational institutions, and its reputation in the film industry. This article provides an in-depth look at HZFilms.com, covering its ownership, history, awards, audience, critical reception, and broader cultural significance.

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Ownership and Origins

HZFilms.com was established as the official website for filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar and his production company. Zagar, based in New York City, is known for his deeply personal and visually inventive documentaries. The website functioned as a portfolio and promotional platform for Zagar’s films, particularly his acclaimed documentary In a Dream, which explores the life and art of his father, Isaiah Zagar, a renowned mosaic artist in Philadelphia.

The site was managed by Zagar and his team, and it served as a central hub for information about his film projects, festival screenings, press coverage, and contact information for professional inquiries.

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Location and Proximity

Although Zagar is based in New York City, much of his work, especially that featured on HZFilms.com, is closely tied to Philadelphia. Many of his documentaries, including In a Dream, are set in Philadelphia and delve into the city’s vibrant arts scene and unique communities. The website itself was operated from New York but maintained strong connections to Philadelphia through its content and collaborations.

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Notable Projects and Website Structure

HZFilms.com primarily highlighted the following projects:

• In a Dream: A feature-length documentary about Isaiah Zagar, chronicling his mosaic art and complex family life.

• Coney Island, 1945: A short film exploring personal and historical memories.

• Heart Stop Beating: A documentary short about a pioneering medical procedure involving a mechanical heart.

• Starved for Attention: A series of short films created in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders, focusing on global childhood malnutrition.

The website typically included sections such as:

• Film synopses and trailers

• Biographies of filmmakers and collaborators

• Press and awards listings

• Screening schedules and festival appearances

• Contact information for bookings and professional inquiries

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Awards and Recognition

The films featured on HZFilms.com, especially In a Dream, have received significant recognition:

• In a Dream was broadcast on HBO and distributed in theaters across the United States.

• The film was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and received two Emmy nominations, including Best Documentary.

• It won awards at major film festivals, including SXSW, Full Frame, Biografilm, and the San Francisco Documentary Festival.

• The film also captured the Best Film Award at the Philadelphia Film Festival and the Emerging Visions Audience Award at SXSW.

These accolades established HZFilms.com as a respected platform within the independent film community.

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Goals and Mission

The mission of HZFilms.com was to promote independent documentary filmmaking that explores personal, social, and cultural themes. The site aimed to:

• Showcase the artistry and impact of documentary storytelling.

• Raise awareness about important social issues, such as global malnutrition and mental health.

• Serve as a resource for educators, students, and film enthusiasts interested in documentary filmmaking.

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Audience and Popularity

HZFilms.com attracted a diverse audience, including:

• Film students and educators, particularly those focused on documentary filmmaking.

• Festival programmers and industry professionals seeking innovative independent films.

• General audiences interested in art, family dynamics, and social issues.

The site’s popularity was driven by the critical success of its featured films, which were screened at prominent festivals and broadcast on major networks. Educational institutions have also referenced the site as supplemental material for film courses, further enhancing its reputation in academic circles.

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Critical Reception and Reviews

The films promoted by HZFilms.com, particularly In a Dream, received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences. Reviewers praised the film’s emotional depth, visual artistry, and candid exploration of family relationships. The documentary’s unique blend of personal narrative and artistic documentation resonated with viewers, earning it a place among the most memorable independent documentaries of its era.

Other projects, such as the Starved for Attention series, were commended for their powerful depiction of humanitarian issues and their collaboration with organizations like Doctors Without Borders. These works contributed to public discourse on global health and social justice, reflecting the site’s commitment to meaningful storytelling.

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History and Evolution

HZFilms.com’s history reflects the evolution of independent documentary filmmaking in the digital age. The site began as a personal portfolio for Jeremiah Zagar, gradually expanding to include a range of projects and collaborations. As Zagar’s reputation grew, the website became a hub for festival updates, press coverage, and educational resources. Although the site is no longer actively updated, its archived content continues to serve as a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of art, family, and social change.

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Press and Media Coverage

HZFilms.com and its featured films have been covered by major media outlets and film industry publications. For example:

• In a Dream was featured in press releases from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when it was shortlisted for an Oscar.

• The film’s festival success was reported by outlets covering SXSW, Full Frame, and other major events.

• Zagar’s collaborations with NGOs, such as Doctors Without Borders, received attention for their impact on public awareness of global health issues.

This media coverage helped elevate the profile of both the website and the films it promoted, attracting new audiences and opportunities for distribution.

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Cultural and Social Significance

HZFilms.com played a notable role in promoting documentaries that address both personal and global issues. By highlighting films that explore family dynamics, mental health, artistic expression, and humanitarian crises, the website contributed to broader conversations about the power of documentary film to inspire empathy and social change.

The site’s focus on personal storytelling, particularly through the lens of Zagar’s own family, offered audiences an intimate look at the complexities of human relationships and the transformative power of art. At the same time, its engagement with global issues, such as childhood malnutrition, demonstrated a commitment to using film as a tool for advocacy and education.

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Details, Insights, and Examples

HZFilms.com stood out for its in-depth exploration of both the creative process and the social contexts of its films. For example:

• In a Dream not only documents Isaiah Zagar’s mosaic murals but also delves into the emotional landscape of his family, offering a raw and honest portrayal of love, betrayal, and reconciliation.

• The Starved for Attention series used the power of short-form documentary to humanize the global crisis of childhood malnutrition, bringing attention to the work of Doctors Without Borders and the lived experiences of affected families.

• The short film Heart Stop Beating provided a compelling look at medical innovation, challenging viewers to reconsider the boundaries of human physiology and the meaning of life.

These examples illustrate the website’s commitment to storytelling that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

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Audience Engagement and Educational Value

HZFilms.com was frequently used as a resource in educational settings, particularly in film studies and documentary courses. Its detailed film synopses, behind-the-scenes insights, and press materials made it a valuable tool for students and educators seeking to understand the craft of documentary filmmaking.

The site’s accessibility and focus on real-world issues also made it appealing to a broader audience, fostering a sense of community among viewers who shared an interest in independent film and social change.

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Known For

HZFilms.com is best known for:

• Promoting the work of Jeremiah Zagar, especially the documentary In a Dream.

• Serving as a platform for innovative and socially conscious documentary films.

• Providing educational resources and fostering engagement with important social issues.

• Earning recognition and awards at major film festivals and from industry organizations.

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HZFilms.com remains a significant presence in the world of independent documentary filmmaking, even as its active updates have ceased. Through its promotion of personal and socially relevant films, its engagement with audiences and educators, and its recognition within the film industry, the website has left a lasting impact on the documentary community. Its legacy continues through the films and projects it helped bring to wider attention, and it stands as a testament to the power of documentary storytelling to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.

 

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