Greta Snider

Professor Greta Snider is a distinguished experimental filmmaker and faculty member at the School of Cinema, San Francisco State University. Her work bridges personal and historical narratives through nonfiction art cinema, emphasizing experimental techniques like stereoscopic imaging and AR. She co-founded the Documentary for Health and Social Justice project, producing over 50 student films addressing social issues such as healthcare equity and LGBTQ+ rights. Her films explore themes like human rights, memory, and identity, with exhibitions at Lincoln Center and the Academy Film Archives acquisition in 2019.

Education: M.F.A. (2001), San Francisco State University; B.F.A. (1985), Antioch College.

Research Interests: Experimental film techniques, 3D/AR integration, human rights documentation, and the intersection of personal narrative with historical context. Her projects like Dimensional Bodies and Prayer for the Torture Memos exemplify her focus on materiality and ethical inquiry.

Film Trends: Recent works (2015–2019) critically examine political systems and legal policies, while earlier films (1989–2005) explore existential themes and urban landscapes. Her use of archival material and avant-garde montage creates layered critiques of societal structures.

Awards:

• Films acquired by the Academy Film Archives (2019)

Advising & Engagement: Co-taught the Documentary for Health and Social Justice course (2006–2016), mentoring students on community-driven films. Her lab collaborations focus on AR slide works and stereoscopic portraiture.

Labs/Teams: Active in the SF State Health Equity Institute and Light Industry experimental screening series. Films distributed by Canyon Cinema.