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Award-winning filmmaker Cindy Baer began her journey as an actress at age 14 with the Boston Children's Theatre. She has appeared in over twenty stage productions, notably as Essie in the Pasadena Shakespeare Company's "You Can't Take It With You," and as Jill in the 30th anniversary run of Leonard Gershe's "Butterflies are Free" at Hollywood's esteemed Matrix Theatre, which she also produced.
In 2001, Cindy established Free Dream Pictures, her production company, and debuted as a feature director and producer with Purgatory House (2004). The film was penned by Celeste Davis, a 14-year-old at-risk girl Baer mentored through the Big Sisters of Los Angeles Program. Cindy cast Celeste alongside newcomers Johnny Pacar (Disney's Now You See It... (2005), NBC's Flight 29 Down (2005)) and Brian Dietzen (NCIS (2003)) in their first acting roles, as well as Jim Hanks, the younger brother of Tom Hanks. Purgatory House received widespread acclaim, featured in over 60 publications including NPR's "All Things Considered," The New York Post, The Chicago Tribune, and CBS Radio. It earned 12 film festival awards, 2 Prism Award nominations, and was listed among critics’ "Best Films of the Year" before being distributed by Image Entertainment.
Baer's second feature, Odd Brodsky (2014), which she directed, produced, and co-wrote with her cinematographer husband Matthew Irving, achieved comparable success. It screened at 30 film festivals and won 21 awards. The film was critically acclaimed, holding a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and reached #19 on the U.S. iTunes Independent Comedy Charts, #13 in the U.K., and #2 in Sweden and Armenia. Its screenplay hit #1 on Amazon’s Best Sellers list for screenplays.
Additionally, Baer co-founded Patron of the Arts, a California nonprofit dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers in creating work and connecting with audiences.
