A former licensed social worker, writer/filmmaker Josef Steiff creates films, installations, performance, and written work that reflect his interest in the ways that people struggle to make personal sense out of random, impersonal events. His work has exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
His short films include writing and directing the award-winning experimental narratives "Borders," "Catching Fire," "I Like My Boyfriend Drunk" and educational documentary "How Will I Tell? Surviving Sexual Assault." Other shorts include "Eclipse," "Indian Summer" and producing Todd Lillethun's "Safe Word" and "The Quit." His most recent film, "Jesse James," has been an official selection in 114 film festivals worldwide, winning over 50 awards.
His feature work includes writing/directing THE OTHER ONE and the last chapter ("Wiped Clean") of the Split Pillow experiment in collaborative filmmaking SOULMAID. His feature producing work includes RHAPSODY and line producing MBC Television's MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A FLOWER, the first Korean feature-length film to deal openly with disabilities. He has served as general crew on Michael Moore’s ROGER & ME and Wendy Weinberg’s Academy Award nominated documentary, "Beyond Imagining." His first feature, THE OTHER ONE, screened in numerous festivals, receiving several awards, including four Indie Awards.
Steiff contributed a sound installation to the first major art exhibition regarding HIV in the United States, "AIDS: The Artists' Response," and is the writer/performer of the critically acclaimed one-man show GOLDEN CORRAL that reflects on his experience growing up and working in rural Appalachia.
He is currently based in USA's metro Chicago/Milwaukee area making film and teaching at Columbia College but has spent time in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
His books include:
- Concept to Screen,
- Storytelling Across Worlds: Transmedia for Creatives and Producers,
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking,
- Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up?,
- Anime and Philosophy: Wide Eyed Wonder,
- Manga and Philosophy: Fullmetal Metaphysician,
- Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footsteps of a Gigantic Mind.
Jesse James
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Drama)
Writer/Director
The Quit
(
Film (short)
by Flicker Effects / Todd Lillethun (Comedy)
Producer
The Other One
(
Film
by Sterling Rock Productions
Writer/Director
Safe Word
(
Film (short)
by Flicker Effects / Todd Lillethun
Producer
Eclipse
(
Film (short)
by Sterling Rock Productions
Writer/Director
Rhapsody
(
Film
by Thrillsville / Mark Bessenger (Drama)
Producer
I Like My Boyfriend Drunk
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Comedy)
Writer/Director
South Loop
(
Film
by Parkside Films / John Rangel (Drama)
Featured Extra
Night Bus
(
Documentary
by Flicker Effects / Todd Lillethun (Drama and Short)
Location Sound
L.O.V.E. Love (music video)
(
Video
by Luxotone Records (Music)
Director/Editor
Tear Back the Night (music video)
(
Video
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Music)
Writer/Director/Editor
Media Lab Shorts Uploaded
(
TV Series
Producer
SoulMaid
(
Film
by Split Pillow (Comedy)
Co-Writer/Co-Director
Preselected
(
Film (short)
by Vuk Mitrovic (Drama)
Producer
Brush
(
Film (short)
Writer
Kkotppoda areumdaun geunyeo
(
TV Movie
Producer
More Beautiful Than a Flower
(
Film
by MBC Television (Korea) (Drama)
Line Producer
The French Boy
(
Film (short)
Cinematographer/Camera
Thief
(
Film
Producer/Co-Writer/Cinematographer/Camera
Love is Hell (music video)
(
Video
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Music)
Writer/Director/Editor
Beyond Imaging: Margaret Anderson and The Little Review
(
Documentary
by Women Make Movies / Wendy L. Weinberg (History and Biography)
Crew
No Need to Repent
(
Documentary
by Asymmetry Productions / Ann Alter (Biography)
Cinematographer/Camera
Roger & Me
(
Documentary
by Dog Eat Dog Productions
Crew
Catching Fire
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Drama)
Writer/Director/Editor
Borders
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Drama)
Writer/Director/Editor
China Lessons
(
Documentary
Assistant Negative Cutter
Indian Summer
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Drama)
Writer/Director/Editor
See Dick Run
(
Film (short)
by Asymmetry Productions / Ann Alter (Comedy)
Cinematographer/Camera
Wolfchain
(
Film (short)
by inVisibility Productions LLC (Drama)
Writer/Director/Editor
How Will I Tell? Surviving Sexual Assault
(
Documentary
by inVisibility Productions LLC
Director/Co-Producer/Co-Writer
Indie Awards Certificate of Excellence: Fiction Feature, Indie Fest, La Jolla, California, for THE OTHER ONE
(2014)
Indie Awards Certificate of Excellence: Leading Actress, Indie Fest, La Jolla, California, for THE OTHER ONE
(2014)
Indie Awards Certificate of Merit: Supporting Actress, Indie Fest, La Jolla, California, for THE OTHER ONE
(2014)
Indie Awards Certificate of Merit: Cinematography, Indie Fest, La Jolla, California, for THE OTHER ONE
(2014)
Honorable Mention, The Indie Gathering, Hudson, Ohio, for THE OTHER ONE
(2014)
Audience Award for Best Short at Chicago's Reeling Film Festival for SAFE WORD
(2014)
Bronze Plaque, Columbus International Film + Video Festival, Ohio, for I LIKE MY BOYFRIEND DRUNK
(2012)
Semi-Finalist, Moondance International Film Festival, Colorado, for feature script NIGHTCRAWLER
(2011)
Finalist, BlueCat Screenwriting Lab Short Screenplay Award, for JESSIE JAMES
(2008)
IFC Media Lab Best Short Film, for PRESELECTED
(2007)
Five Shows You Must See Now and "highly recommended" in NewCity Chicago for GOLDEN CORRAL
(2006)
Critic's Choice and "highly recommended" in the Chicago Reader for GOLDEN CORRAL
(2006)
Best of the Festival Narrative Award at the 15th Festival of Illinois Film & Video Artists for BORDERS
(1990)
Honorable Mention at the 15th Festival of Illinois Film & Video Artists for CATCHING FIRE
(1990)
Cash Prize/Competition Winner at the 21st Sinking Creek Film Celebration Film & Video Competition for CATCHING FIRE
(1990)
Cash Prize/Competition Winner at the Athens International Film & Video Festival for BORDERS
(1990)
Cash Prize/Competition Winner at the Athens International Film & Video Festival for INDIAN SUMMER
(1990)
Competition Finalist at the Danubiale Internationale Festtage der Film- und Videoamateure for WOLFCHAIN
(1989)
Competition Finalist at the Athens International Film & Video Festival for CATCHING FIRE
(1989)
Peace & Justice Award
(1987)
Best of the Festival Educational Award at the 1986 Columbus International Video Festival for HOW WILL I TELL?/SURVIVING SEXUAL ASSAUL
(1986)
Ohio University
(1983-1988)