Maxi Cohen
Maxi Cohen is an independent filmmaker, video and multimedia artist. Her works are in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art in New York, Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, among other museums. Her feature documentary films have played in movie theaters, on TV internationally, in festivals, and have influenced two generations of documentary filmmakers. As a media activist, her film and television work has had significant influence in creating visible social change.
Maxi has been concerned about our oceans since her first film, made at age 20, to stop ocean dumping. Her passion for social change resulted in a TV series in Cape May, NJ that was catalytic in changing the city’s social, cultural and economic future forever. Her first feature documentary, the theatrically released JOE AND MAXI about her relationship with her fisherman father, was noted for pushing the envelope of the documentary genre. She directed ANGER for the feature film SEVEN WOMEN-SEVEN SINS (ZDF), in which seven internationally acclaimed directors re-interpret the seven deadly sins.
In response to the Los Angeles riots, Maxi produced/directed SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES: INSIDE VOICES, a documentary filmed by African-Americans, Latinos and Koreans living in areas most affected by the riots. The documentary was the first film made by amateurs and of such ethnic diversity to play on television (Showtime). It was called best in series by ZDF/ARTE.
Recently, Maxi executive produced From Shock To Awe, now streaming, which has changed and saved many lives, about suicidal veterans who recovered there lives with ayahuasca.
Maxi Cohen has been filming and photographing lush abstractions of water for more than two decades, from Australia to Bali, Brazil to Zambia. Her works of waterfalls, oceans, rivers, deltas, hot springs and pools, yielding photographs, multimedia, video sculptures and large scale environments.