Biography

Peter Friedman studied film at Hampshire College, where he was a student and protégé 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 Award® nomination for directing “The Wizard of the String,” a documentary portrait of vaudeville era musician Roy Smeck, and an Emmy® nomination for editing “Flamingo Odyssey” for National Geographic. In 1990, he produced and directed “I Talk to Animals,” a portrait of an animal therapist, which was broadcast in 10 different countries. In 1993, Friedman completed “Silverlake Life: The View From Here” for his mentor Joslin, who passed away during the course of filming. “Silverlake Life” was called “the most honest depiction of AIDS on screen” and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He died on April 3, 2025, in Paris.