Cynthia Lowen is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and a 2023 Sundance Screenwriting Fellow. She's the director/producer of BATTLEGROUND and NETIZENS.
Cynthia Lowen is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and award-winning writer whose work uses the power of story to catalyze meaningful change, confronting timely social issues from bullying to online harassment to reproductive rights.
Cynthia is the director and producer of the feature documentary ‘Battleground,’ an urgently timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, premiering at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and streaming on STARZ. Of the film The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg writes: “I’ve been haunted by a moment from the new documentary ‘Battleground’…The documentary is in part a window into how they won.” The film’s impact campaign has collaborated with pro-choice organizations including Abortion Access Front, the ACLU, the American College of OB-GYNs, the Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL, National Advocates for Pregnant Women, Planned Parenthood, We Testify and many more working to advance reproductive justice.
Cynthia is also the director and producer of ‘Netizens,’ a feature documentary distributed by HBO Max about women and online harassment. “Bristling with rightful fury,” says Teen Vogue of the film, ‘Netizens’ follows three women as they confront digital abuse and strive for justice online. Cynthia spearheaded the ‘Netizens’ Impact Campaign, working with tech companies and advocacy partners including the Anti-Defamation League, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, Facebook, Microsoft, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Oculus and others, to develop tools and responses to reduce online harassment and foster constructive digital citizenship.
Cynthia is the producer and writer of the acclaimed documentary ‘Bully’ following five kids and families through a year in the life of America’s bullying crisis. Lauded by critics, ‘Bully’ was nominated for two Emmys, shortlisted for the Oscars, received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for Excellence in Journalism, and screened at the White House.
Cynthia is a sought-after speaker both in the U.S. and internationally, delivering keynotes on impact filmmaking, online harassment, reproductive rights and bullying. She has done speaking engagements and keynotes at Microsoft, the ADL, Facebook, Columbia University, New York Law School, UC Irvine School of Law, the Women’s Media Center, George Washington University, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, TEDx, SXSW, IdeaFestival, Open Society Foundations, the Producers Guild and many more.