Speakers

Ed Saxon
Producer
Ed Saxon Productions

Raised in St, Louis, Missouri, Ed is a graduate of the USC Peter Stark Producing Program. He received his undergraduate degree at McGill University. He produced the film THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, which is, to date, the third and most recent film to sweep the five main categories at the Academy Awards - Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.

In 2009, Focus Features released Saxon's picture AWAY WE GO directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. The story - written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida - stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph and follows a young expectant couple on a cross country road trip as they search for a place to live and raise a family.

Mr. Saxon executive produced Richard Linklater's FAST FOOD NATION in 2006, based upon the New York Times Bestseller. He also produced the Charlie Kaufman penned and Spike Jonze directed ADAPTATION, which was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 2002.

Actors who've received Academy recognition on Saxon films include Tom Hanks and Peter Fonda. Hanks won a Best Actor Oscar in 1993 for his role in PHILADELPHIA. (Saxon partnered again with Hanks on the actor's directorial debut THAT THING YOU DO!) Fonda was nominated for Best Actor for 1997's ULEE'S GOLD.

In documentary film, Saxon was a producer on MANDELA, which was nominated for an Oscar. His other documentary work includes STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK, the television documentary HAITI DREAMS OF DEMOCRACY, and COUSIN BOBBY, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Among Saxon's other features are DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS, MIAMI BLUES, BELOVED, MARRIED TO THE MOB, and SOMETHING WILD.

Mr. Saxon is a founding Advisory Board member of the INDEPENDENT FILM CHANNEL and a member of the board of The National Coalition for Haitian Rights. His sister Leslie is our host today. He's married to the artist, Kirsten Coyne. They have two young daughters and lives in Los Angeles.