Jane Cusumano

A champion of diversity in cinema, Jane Cusumano was born in 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Active from the late 1970s until her untimely passing in 2001, Cusumano was known for her work in drama and comedy, with her most notable films including "What Matters Most" and "In the Company of Strangers", the former garnering her the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Her directorial style was marked by a keen sense of character development and an empathetic approach to storytelling that often touched on themes of love, connection, and the human spirit. Those who knew Jane Cusumano remember her not just for her talent behind the camera, but for her inspiring perseverance and unyielding passion for filmmaking.