William Greaves

William Greaves (b. 1926, New York City) wears a variety of hats: producer, director, screenwriter, editor, cameraman, actor, dancer, acting teacher. But he is, above all, an independent filmmaker and long-time member of the Actors Studio who made a name for himself with his revolutionary documentaries focusing on the African-American experience. Two highlights of his movie career are Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey (2001; narrated by Sidney Poitier) and the award-winning Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice (1989; narrated by Toni Morrison). Spanning several decades, his career excels for experiments with various genres and styles. As executive producer on the TV series "Black Journal" he was awarded an Emmy. Last year he was honoured by the International Documentary Association (IDA) with a Career Achievement Award.

MFF Karlovy Vary