Michelle Mizner graduated California State University, Northridge with a film production emphasis in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts. She directed the senior film project ‘Barrio Thief’ with funding assistance from the HFPA and was an HFPA Fellow. “Michelle is an an example of the impact the HFPA funding has had on our CSUN students. I remember the importance of needing your funding to complete her senior film project.”
CSUN alumna Michelle Mizner ’07 (Cinema and Television Arts) is now an Oscar winner, after the film she produced and edited won “Best Documentary” at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
“20 Days in Mariupol” is an account of the first days of war after Russia invaded the Ukrainian city. It documents the experiences of Associated Press video journalist Mstyslav Chernov and a team of journalists who arrived in Mariupol hours before Russian troops landed.
Mizner, along with her colleagues, accepted their awards on stage at the glittering awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Chernov gave an emotional speech about his homeland and the war that began in February, 2022.
Mizner, a producer and editor on the film, is a senior documentary editor and producer at the PBS series “Frontline” in Boston. She has produced numerous projects for the series including podcasts and interactive documentaries, of which three have been News and Documentary Emmy award winners.
The film was a joint production of the Associated Press and PBS.
