Gia Walsh (née Laspagnoletta; born December 7, 1967) is an American film producer[1] and co-founder of the eponymous New York City based production company, GiGi Films.[2]

Early life and education

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Raised in Bronxville, New York, she graduated from Manhattanville University in 1989. She became interested in working in film after enrolling in Ralph Appelbaum's Filmmaker's Dialogue course at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.[1]

Career

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Under Walsh's supervision and creative guidance, GiGi Films has brought award-winning movies to the screen.[3][4] Walsh's films have received both film festival nominations and industry recognition.[5] Walsh's production of Zola is thought to be the first film inspired entirely by a Twitter feed.[6]

In 2022, Walsh and Gigi Films produced 'Zola'.[7] 'Zola' earned seven nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards where it won Best Editing and Best Female Lead.[8]'Zola' received The Creative Impact Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, The Black Critics Film Circle Award and the 2021 Women Film Critic Circle Award.[9] Walsh produced 'American Murderer'[5] in 2022, which premiered at the Taormina Film Festival where it was nominated for the Cariddi D'Oro Award.[10] It received The Artistic Directors Award in 2022 at The San Diego Film Festival[11] and Tom Pelphrey won Best Actor Award at the Boston Film Festival. 'Allswell in New York', also produced by Walsh, won Best Screenplay in a US Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022.[4] In 2016, Walsh and GiGi Films produced the drama '11:55' .[12]'11:55' won The Aspen Film Festival Audience Award and the 2017 Altered States Audience Award at The River Run Film Festival.

Filmography

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Walsh's filmography includes;'The Winning Season'(2009), 'The Art of Getting By'(2011),[13][14]'Burn Country'(2016), '11:55'(2016),'Zola'(2020),[15] 'Allswell in New York' (2022)[16]'American Murderer' (2022)[17] and 'Cabin Girl' (2023). 'Allswell In New York' debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022.[18] 'Allswell In New York' won Best Feature Film in 2022 at the 8th Annual Official Latino Film and Arts Festival. GiGi Films' 'Zola' premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in 2020[19] where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Best U.S. Picture. Burn Country premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016 and Dominic Raines won the Best Actor Award. Walsh's first film as a producer,'The Winning Season' with Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts and Rooney Mara, premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in 2009.[20]

Filmography
Year Film Credit
2009 The Winning Season producer[1]
2011 The Art of Getting By producer
2016 Burn Country executive producer
2016 11:55 producer
2020 Zola producer[8]
2022 Allswell In New York producer
2022 American Murderer producer
2023 Cabin Girl producer

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bronxville Native Realizes Silver Screen Dream". Bronxville-Eastchester, NY Patch. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  2. ^ "Local Filmmaker's Latest in Theaters Today". Bronxville-Eastchester, NY Patch. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  3. ^ "Gia Walsh | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  4. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (2022-06-16). "Tribeca Awards 2022: 'Good Girl Jane,' 'January,' and 'The Cave of Adullam' Take Top Honors". IndieWire. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  5. ^ a b "AwardsWatch - Tom Pelphrey, Idina Menzel, Ryan Phillippe, Jacki Weaver to star in 'American Murderer' for Traveling Picture Show and GiGi Films". AwardsWatch. 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  6. ^ "The Wild True Story Behind Zola's Viral 148-Tweet Thread (And How to Read It)". ELLE. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ Kay2016-02-04T22:30:00+00:00, Jeremy. "James Franco to direct 'Zola Tells All'". Screen. Retrieved 2024-07-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b Mancuso, Vinnie (2022-03-07). ""The Lost Daughter,Zola,+ Drive My Car Crowned at the 2022 Film Independent Spirirt Awards"". Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  9. ^ Critics, Online Association of Female Film (2021-12-21). "Online Association of Female Film Critics 2021 Awards – Winners". Online Association of Female Film Critics. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  10. ^ Trabattoni2022-06-17T12:12:00+01:00, Alina. "Taormina Film Festival unveils line-up including 'American Murderer', 'Baby Pyramid'". Screen. Retrieved 2024-06-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "2022 Award Winners - San Diego International Film Festival". 2022-10-28. Archived from the original on 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  12. ^ "2016 Woodstock Film Festival program by Woodstock Film Festival - Issuu". issuu.com. 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  13. ^ Scott, A. O. (2011-06-16). "Allergic to Homework and Possibly Smitten". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  14. ^ Finke, Nikki (2011-01-24). "Sundance: 'Homework' Sells To Fox Searchlight". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  15. ^ Legaspi, Althea (2016-02-05). "James Franco to Direct 'Zola' Stripper Film". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  16. ^ Song, Katie (2021-11-13). "'Allswell,' Starring Elizabeth Rodriguez, Liza Colón-Zayas and Daphne Rubin-Vega, Wraps Production". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  17. ^ Lang, Brent (2022-07-19). "Saban Buys Ryan Phillippe, Tom Pelphrey Crime Thriller 'American Murderer' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  18. ^ "Allswell | 2022 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  19. ^ Rooney, David (2020-01-25). "'Zola': Film Review | Sundance 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  20. ^ "Sundance: Lionsgate set to snatch up 'The Winning Season'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.