Biography

[February 2022]

Mariya Pyter is an American Director, Screenwriter, and Producer, with experience working in Theater, film, and TV (Dr. Phil show, CBS, TNT, REN TV, NTV). Born in Russia, Mariya moved to the United States to pursue her love of storytelling and creativity through directing.

After graduating with honors from the UCLA Directing program, Mariya gained experience at Dr. Phil's show, CBS. In collaboration with cinematographer Bruce Finn (USC), Mariya Pyter directed Women In Film-produced Public Service Announcement for the charity "A New Way of Life: Re-entry Project" featuring rap by Bre-Z ("Empire"). Mariya believes in the importance of finding the solutions for issues connected to poverty, homelessness, liberty, AIDS, and many more. That's why Susan Burton's (CNN hero 2010) charity "A new way of life: re-entry project" that helps women to make a successful community re-entrance after being in prison, was one of the key projects of 2016. PSA Won the Gold Aurora Award, 2017.

Her short narrative films ("The Dead are silent", "On the way to Lovetown") collected multiple awards worldwide. Mariya's feature-length documentary on children with special needs titled "22" received the Social Impact Award, in 2017 and received worldwide distribution on Amazon, VHX, and other VOD platforms. Other achievements include Gold Telly and Gold Aurora Awards for the "One-second" WIF-produced PSA (Producers team), 6 nominations, and 2 wins including the Best Director nomination at 48 Film Project 2018 (DGA Theater screening), and more. She has also been placed in several of the most prestigious screenwriting competitions, including Final Draft Big Break, and Page Awards.

During a pandemic, Mariya ventured into animation her short horror film "Me-eat" which premiered at MosFilm festival in 2020. Since she has completed sci-fi short animation titled "Somewhere in the Milky Way" and is developing a based on a true story animation "Grandpa". In collaboration with Buffalo 8, Mariya and her team at Magic Hour Productions, INC. are developing a feature-length horror/drama "Devil and Dr. Basterhimen".

Ms.Pyter's teaching experience includes Directing Workshop at Rough Cut Film Festival, Writing mentorship at the Young Storytellers program. She is a Workshop developer/Instructor for the Cinema Lab at STEM World, Pasadena, CA, and the curator of the film grant at S.T.E.A.M. for Humanity Foundation.

Mariya supports the empowerment of women in film, both in front and behind the camera, and promotes diversity in the industry. Her affiliations include Women in Film, LA, Artemis Women in Action film festival, Jeanie Buss' Women of Wrestling, LA Film Festival, Film Independent Spirit Awards.

[February 2022]
- IMDb mini biography by: Scott Fivelson, edited by Melissa Williams / Feb 2022