Draft:Nela Wagman

Nela Wagman is an American director, writer, and actress known for her work in both theater and film. She has directed productions at prominent venues including the Ohio Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Celebration Theater (Seattle), Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia), and Trinity Repertory Theater (Providence, RI). Wagman is the founder and artistic director of Watermark Theater in New York.^[1]

Career

Theater

Wagman's theater work as a director and producer has been covered in major publications, including The New York Times, Village Voice, Newsday, and The Jewish Exponent. Notable productions she directed include:

• Waiting at the Water's Edge – reviewed by The New York Times (1994)
• Blaming Mom – reviewed by The New York Times and Village Voice (1994)
• Waiter, Waiter – reviewed by The New York Times (1995)
• Summer Cyclone – reviewed by The New York Times (2001)
• My Left Breast by Susan Miller – produced at Watermark Theater; winner of an OBIE Award (1995)

Film

Wagman's films have received recognition at numerous juried, IMDb-listed film festivals.

• Magnetism (2000) – written and directed by Wagman, produced by Sarah Teale, starring Isabel Keating and Chris Ceraso; screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival and FilmFest Dresden (International Short Film Festival).^[2]
• Come Find Me – **Best Short Film** at Love & Hope International Film Festival, Barcelona (2023); **Best Editing** at Festival of Cinema NYC (2023); **Best Drama** and **Best Score** at NYWIFT iWomanTV 2025 Online Shorts Festival; **Best Editing** at Red Dirt Film Festival (2022); **Best Actress** (Sophia Massa) at Festival of Cinema NYC (2023).
• That Was Delicious – written and directed by Wagman, who also played the lead role; awards include **Best Actress in a Short Film** at Love & Hope International Film Festival, Barcelona (2022), **Best Super Short Film** at Sweet Democracy Film Awards (2022), **Best Microshort USA** at Skiptown Playhouse International Film Festival (2022), and **Best Microshort** at Reale Film Festival (2023).
• Miriam’s Cup – co-directed with Amy Fox and co-produced by Wagman; scheduled for release in 2026.
• Dead Broke – co-produced and acted in by Wagman; premiered online at the Tribeca Film Center (1999; ifilm/Microsoft initiative); also screened at the Newport International Film Festival (June 2–7, 1998), as noted on Turner Classic Movies.^[3]
• Urbania – co-executive producer; festival honors include **Outfest Los Angeles (2000)** – Grand Jury Award, Outstanding American Narrative Feature (Winner); **Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (2000)** – Jury Prize, Best Feature (Winner); **Provincetown International Film Festival (2000)** – Audience Award, Best Feature (Winner); **San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (2000)** – Best First Feature (Winner); and **Seattle International Film Festival (2000)** – Golden Space Needle Award, Best Actor (Dan Futterman) (Winner).^[4]

Awards and recognition

• Multiple awards at juried, IMDb-listed film festivals.
• Leadership in developing and producing original works for both stage and screen.

References

1. "Where the Action Is: Off- and Off-Off-Broadway Theatre Companies, Part II". Backstage. March 25, 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
2. "Nela Wagman". CCNY Cityvisions. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
3. "Dead Broke (1998) – Miscellaneous Notes". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
4. "Urbania Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 20 August 2025.

External links

• Nela Wagman at IMDb