
Peter Friedman
Directing
Peter Friedman studied film at Hampshire College, where he was a student and protĂ©gĂ© of Tom Joslin. They maintained a close friendship long after Friedman graduated and established himself as a documentary filmmaker in New York City. Friedman received an Academy AwardÂź nomination for directing âThe Wizard of the String,â a documentary portrait of vaudeville era musician Roy Smeck, and an EmmyÂź nomination for editing âFlamingo Odysseyâ for National Geographic. In 1990, he produced and directed âI Talk to Animals,â a portrait of an animal therapist, which was broadcast in 10 different countries. In 1993, Friedman completed âSilverlake Life: The View From Hereâ for his mentor Joslin, who passed away during the course of filming. âSilverlake Lifeâ was called âthe most honest depiction of AIDS on screenâ and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He died on April 3, 2025, in Paris.





