Bonnie Palef

When Writer/Director/Producer Palef had an exclusive first look overall production agreement with Tri-Star, the studio president felt her "real creative tuition and her experience in all aspects of the film-making process, from story development to casting to post production is a definite asset. An accomplished film-maker Palef has skillfully brought stories to the screen with a compelling depth and sensitivity." Her short film "Walking the Dog", with Frances Sternhagen, Victor Garber and Joaquin Phoenix has been met with great enthusiasm on the festival circuit, receiving awards from the USA, The Chicago International, and The Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals, as well as great acclaim in the non-competitive festivals such as the prestigious London, Toronto, and Virginia Film Festival. The film was the only English short invited to the Venice Film Festival for that year. Palef then produced and translated to the screen, the screenplay of the theatrical production of "Marvin's Room" with Meryl Streep and Leonardo di Caprio and Robert de Niro. The film also won an Oscar nomination for Diane Keaton. Palef produced the cult hit "Parents", directed by Bob Balaban and starring Mary Beth Hurt and Randy Quaid. The film garnered many awards including the Critics Prize at the Avoriaz Film Festival in France, and received special honors at the Tokyo film festival. Palef was production manager and associate producer of the Oscar-winning "Moonstruck", written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Norman Jewison. One highlight in recognition of Palef's contribution came when on the Academy Awards Oscar-winner John Patrick Shanley congratulated Palef for her creative work in developing his screenplay for "Moonstruck". Palef reunited Danny Aiello and Olympia Dukakis from "Moonstruck" in a feature film which she produced for Disney, "Cemetery Club", also starring Ellen Burstyn and Diane Ladd. Palef also associate produced the controversial film of Norman Jewison's "Agnes of God", with Jane Fonda. Palef continued to work with Jewison and Patrick Palmer for many years on such diverse films as "...And Justice For All", "The Dogs of War", "Best Friends" and "Iceman. Later, as Vice President and Head of Creative Development for Yorktown Productions, she worked on such films as "A Soldier's Story", "Children of a Lesser God", "Dance Me Outside", and "January Man". Palef took on the role of the producer's coordinator for the "53rd Annual Academy Awards", which not demanded Palef's creative skills, but also her resourceful management abilities as she was required to change arrangements for the live show's air date due to the morning assassination attempt on President Reagan. For Garth Drabinsky, Palef worked on the feature films "The Silent Partner" and "Tribute". She has written for the prestigious children's program "Sesame Street" and co-directed a "Wide World of Sports" special for Canadian television. Palef has also been a contributing editor to the Canadian newsweekly "Maclean's" and a correspondent for "On Location", the Los Angeles trade magazine. Active in both the Canadian and American Film communities, Palef , born in Canada, received her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts (Film and Art History) with honors from Toronto's York University when she was just 18. She became a member of the Writer's Guild of Canada that same year, working on various projects for the CBC and independent documentary and television production companies. She later attended the Master's Program at the New York Academy of Figurative Art where Ms. Palef studied with the internationally acclaimed painters Eric Fischl, Vincent Desiderio, Jack Beal and Edward Schmidt. As a producer, Palef is currently in development on projects at several major studios.