Personal details
- Professions: Director, Writer, Producer
Lior Geller stands out in the film world—no joke, the guy’s got a Guinness World Record under his belt. Born in Highland Park, New Jersey, then splitting his formative years between there and Tel Aviv, Israel, Geller’s background is a bit of a whirlwind. That mix seems to have sparked something, because he dove into movies from early on, messing around with editing trailers before jumping headfirst into creating his own stuff. Didn’t take long for people to notice, either. His short film “Roads” (2007) is where things got wild. This wasn’t just some class project; the film took off, zipping across the globe and landing at over a hundred film festivals. It racked up awards like it was collecting Pokémon—so many, in fact, that it holds the Guinness World Record for the most awards won by a short student film. Not too shabby for a university project, right? It even snagged an Academy Award nomination, which is kind of the dream for any filmmaker hustling through film school. Geller didn’t just stop with short films or rest on his laurels, either. He’s been nominated for both an Academy Award and an Emmy—yeah, both—proving he’s not a one-hit wonder. The guy writes, directs, produces, and honestly seems to live and breathe film. From editing trailers to seeing his own projects get international love, Geller’s story is the kind of thing that makes you want to grab a camera and give it a go yourself. The hustle, the talent, the awards—he’s got all the receipts.
Graduated from Tel Aviv University’s Film Department back in 2007, which feels like ages ago now—those were the days when everyone still thought shooting on film was the only way to go. The program’s no joke, either. It’s got this reputation for churning out directors and screenwriters who don’t just toe the line, they kind of stomp all over it. You get this wild mix of classic film theory, hands-on set chaos, and some very late-night editing marathons fueled by way too much coffee. A lot of the grads end up making waves in international film festivals, not just hanging around local cinema. People talk about Tel Aviv’s film scene like it’s this hidden gem, but honestly? If you know, you know. It turns out, the 2007 class was stacked—some of those folks are still shaking up the industry, and you’ll spot their names in the credits if you look close enough.
Konidela Ram Charan