Neal Ludevig
I'm a first-generation American director, producer and writer. I make films about grief, mental health, masculinity and identity, and I use storytelling to challenge dominant systems.
As a producer, I'm best known for producing and documenting the 50th anniversary of Black Woodstock, connected to the award-winning documentary Summer of Soul; my work with Anderson .Paak for Quincy Jones's Qwest TV; and the mini-series Insomnia on Revry. My feature Rangoli won the SFFilm Rainin Grant and the 2023 LES Film Festival "Stay Indie" Project, was a top 10 finalist in Tribeca's 2023 Untold Stories competition and a finalist for the 2022 Sundance Producers Fellowship.
In 2023 I produced and directed the Juneteenth Honors on Fuse with Ashanti, Ja Rule, Toosii and Lalah Hathaway. I co-produced Lillian, Next Door, starring Jane Alexander, where I also served as script supervisor and head of crew experience. I'm currently developing a feature about identity, the artist experience and mental health.
I co-founded Snarky Elephant Productions, where I'm Chief Creative Officer, and I'm CEO of Moon31, an experiential media and consulting agency. I executive produced Revive Big Band's debut album and host the podcast Leave Looking Up. My work across film, television, festivals and live events has been covered by The New York Times, Variety, Rolling Stone, Time Out and NPR.
I'm a professional member of the Recording Academy, an APAP Emerging Leader and a 2024 Protect.Blue Wavemaker. I received a Congressional Proclamation for my work with the Harlem Arts Festival, and helped launch the national ice cream brand Enlightened.
Recognition
- 2025MIA Animation Co-Production Market & Pitching Forum · Ancient China of Mars
- 2025Guinness World Record · First Days, co-director
- 2024MIA Co-Production Film Forum · Is This All Of You
- 2024Protect.Blue · Wavemaker
- 2023LES Film Festival “Stay Indie” Project · Winner, Rangoli
- 2023Tribeca Untold Stories · Top 10 finalist, Rangoli
- 2023Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) · Professional member
- 2022Sundance Producers Fellowship · Finalist
- 2021SFFilm Rainin Grant · Winner, Rangoli
- 2017U.S. Congress · Congressional Proclamation, Harlem Arts Festival
- 2015Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) · Emerging Leader
On the projects
Some highlights from projects I produced or worked on.
Zari (2024) · Associate Producer
- WonBest LGBTQ+ Short, Cannes American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase · Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, NewFest
- NominatedBest Narrative Short, Austin Film Festival · Best LGBTQ+ Short, Palm Springs International Film Festival
- FinalistShort of the Week Pride Shorts Competition, 2026
- StreamedAMC+, in the NewFest Future of Film collection, June 2025
Insomnia (2019) · Producer
- SelectedTribeca Film Festival
- NominatedTwo Queerty Awards, 2019
- DistributedRevry, Comcast, Samsung+ and more
Press
Click any headline to read the piece.
Conversations
Interviews and panels where I talk about the work. Click any row to watch.
Beyond film
Festivals, a big band record, a podcast, two companies, an arts nonprofit and a national food brand. The same instinct runs through all of it: get the right people in the same room.