Dana Lustig
| Dana Lustig | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 6, 1963 Israel |
| 💼 Occupation | Film director, producer, writer, author |
| 📆 Years active | 1990–present |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Tal Bergman |
| 👶 Children | 2 |
Dana Lustig (born May 6, 1963) is an Israeli-American film director, producer, writer, and author known for her work in independent film and television. Over the course of her career, she has directed five feature films and produced more than twenty-five independent films and television projects.[1] Among her productions is the survival drama Jungle (2017), starring Daniel Radcliffe and based on the memoir of Israeli adventurer Yossi Ghinsberg.[2]
Early life and education
Lustig was born in Israel and later moved to the United States to pursue a career in filmmaking. She studied at the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI), where she later served as a faculty member.[3]
She served as an actress and filmmaker in the Israeli army prior to relocating to Los Angeles.[4]
Lustig is married to drummer and composer Tal Bergman, and they have twins.[5]
Career
Directing
Lustig began her directing career in the 1990s. Her directorial debut was the romantic comedy Wedding Bell Blues (1996), starring Paulina Porizkova, Illeana Douglas, John Corbett, Julie Warner, and Debbie Reynolds.[6]
She later directed Kill Me Later (2001), starring Selma Blair and Max Beesley. The film was released by Lionsgate.[7]
Lustig also directed the television film Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber (2005), starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Joey Lawrence.
Additional directing credits include Wild Cherry (2009), starring Rob Schneider, Tania Raymonde, Tia Carrere, Rumer Willis, and Kristin Cavallari, and A Thousand Kisses Deep (2011), starring Jodie Whittaker, Dougray Scott, and David Warner.[8]
Producing
Lustig co-founded Bergman Lustig Productions with producer Ram Bergman.[9]
Her producing credits include Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), directed by Michael Radford, and Brick (2005), directed by Rian Johnson.[5]
She also produced:
- The Frontier (2015), which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.[10]
- Jungle (2017), starring Daniel Radcliffe.[11]
- Look Away (2018), starring Mira Sorvino, Jason Isaacs, and India Eisley.[12]
- Spider in the Web (2019), starring Ben Kingsley and Monica Bellucci.[5]
- Breakwater (2023), starring Dermot Mulroney and Mena Suvari.[5]
She also served as an executive producer on Reading Lolita in Tehran, directed by Eran Riklis.[5]
Television
Lustig executive produced the second season of the Israeli television series Very Important Person, which received six nominations at the Israeli Television Academy Awards.[5]
She is also the executive producer and co-creator of the docu-reality television series The Americans, alongside Ram Landes.[5]
Writing
Lustig is the author of Making a Movie: From Concept to Red Carpet, based on her experience in filmmaking and her lecture series.[13]
Lecturing and industry involvement
Alongside her filmmaking career, Lustig has worked as an educator. She serves on the production faculty at the American Film Institute Conservatory and has taught at the New York Film Academy and ArtCenter College of Design.[14]
She also participates in industry panels and film events, including the American Film Market, and leads seminars for Sundance Collab.[15]
Lustig is a member of the Producers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, and the Israeli Film Academy.[5]
Lustig has also participated in international conferences, including global empowerment events such as the "Be Woman" conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan.[5]
Filmography
Director
- Wedding Bell Blues (1996)
- Kill Me Later (2001)
- Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber (2005)
- Wild Cherry (2009)
- A Thousand Kisses Deep (2011)
Producer
- Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000)
- Brick (2005)
- The Frontier (2015)
- Jungle (2017)
- Look Away (2018)
- Breakwater (2023)
Executive producer
- Spider in the Web (2019)
- Reading Lolita in Tehran
Television
- Very Important Person – Executive producer (Season 2)
- The Americans – Executive producer and co-creator
References
- ↑ "Radcliffe Survives: Dana Lustig on Jungle". Film International. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Israeli producer Dana Lustig brings Jungle to Haifa". The Jerusalem Post. 2017. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Production Faculty". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Dana Lustig Bio". Official website. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 "Dana Lustig Bio". Official website. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Indie filmmakers young, talented and happily independent". SouthCoastToday. 1997. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Lusting for life: an immigrant director who's proof the American dream survives". New York Daily News. 2001. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Dana Lustig". New York Film Academy. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Dana Lustig". Sundance Collab. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "The Frontier". SXSW. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Jewcy Interviews Jungle Producer Dana Lustig". Jewcy. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Dana Lustig". New York Film Academy. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Meet Filmmaker Dana Lustig". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Dana Lustig". New York Film Academy. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Independent Pitching Panel". La Femme Festival. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
External links
Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Israeli film directors Category:American film directors Category:Israeli film producers Category:American women film directors
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