Vanessa Roth

Who is Vanessa Roth?

Vanessa Roth is an American filmmaker who has written, produced and directed award-winning non-fiction films and headed up social issue reform efforts through storytelling for nearly 20 years. She has won a number of film awards for her works, including a 2008 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short for Freeheld, an Alfred I duPont-Columbia award for Taken In: The Lives of America's Foster Children, two Sundance Special Jury Prizes, Cine Golden Eagles, Casey Medals and a MacArthur Grant. Some of her award-winning films include Close to Home, Aging Out, Schools of the 21st Century, The Third Monday in October, 9/11’s Toxic Dust, No Tomorrow, The Other Side and American Teacher. She is currently in production on two new documentaries Texas My Texas and Untouchables.

She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work with a minor in Family Law from Columbia University.

She is the daughter of award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth and archeologist Linda Roth.