Robert J. Siegel, a renowned American filmmaker, hails from New York City. His adolescence was spent largely at the iconic Loew's Paradise theater in the Bronx, where he claims to have grown up. He then attended the prestigious New York University Film School, where he made history by shooting the school's first student film to be theatrically released, "Arrivederci Darling, That's My Advice To You", which garnered a Cine Golden Eagle award.
His senior thesis film, "City of Fire", was a finalist at the esteemed San Francisco International Film Festival and one of the first student films to receive worldwide distribution by the United States Information Agency.
Upon graduating, Siegel worked primarily in New York, producing documentaries and commercials. He held positions as head of production for Carity Hoffman Associates, J. Walter Thompson, and McCann Erickson, where he created commercials for prominent brands such as Coca Cola.
For over three decades, Siegel served as the head narrative professor at the SUNY Purchase Film Conservatory, guiding hundreds of thesis films with his creative expertise.
Siegel's debut feature film, "Parades", was the first American film to address the Vietnam War, sparking controversy when it premiered at the USA Film Festival in Dallas. Throughout his career, he has remained a maverick filmmaker, creating works that tackle the pressing issues of modern life on his own terms.
Siegel's films have received recognition at various prestigious festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, the Montreal Film Festival, and the USA Film Festival in Dallas. His film "The Line" was honored with invitations to the Montreal and Deauville International Film Festivals, and his work is part of the National Film Archives.
Siegel resides in Westchester, New York, with his wife and children.
