My Journey and Award-Winning Documentary

Hilary Helstein is an acclaimed American film director, producer, screenwriter, and festival leader known for her powerful documentary work and commitment to storytelling that bridges history and humanity. She began her career in the humanitarian field with Steven Spielberg’s USC Shoah Foundation, where she directed and produced over 250 interviews with Holocaust survivors, liberators, and rescuers. Drawing on this experience, Hilary spent more than a decade creating the award-winning documentary As Seen Through These Eyes, narrated by Maya Angelou and co-produced by the Sundance Channel, which has been screened internationally and honored at major festivals.

In addition to her filmmaking, Hilary is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, a dynamic annual celebration of global cinema that highlights Jewish culture, heritage, and diverse human-rights stories for audiences across Los Angeles and beyond. Based in Los Angeles, she champions film as a medium for education, connection, and community engagement.