Behind the Film ‘Split’ with Deborah Kampmeier

A woman in a lane all her own. Deborah Kampmeir is one of true talent, natural skill, and undebatable execution. Deborah Kampmeier’s first feature Virgin, starring Elisabeth Moss and Robin Wright was nominated for two 2004 Independent Spirit Awards. Her second feature, Hounddog, starring Dakota Fanning was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Deborah is on her third feature, SPLiT which shows 06/19/16 at the Female Eye Film Festival.

Split: Split is the surreal and epic journey a young woman takes to claim her own darkness and sexuality so she can stop putting it into the hands of her abusive lover. When Inanna, a young actress, becomes obsessed with a mask maker, she sacrifices parts of her life in order to win his love. At the same time she enters a mythic journey in the theater. One that blurs her performance, her dreams and her real life and results in a provocative and powerful confrontation that frees them both. The film stars Amy Ferguson, Morgan Spector, Anna Mouglalis and Fredric Lehne.

Deborah is also in development with several films including an Untitled Carson McCullers Project, Persephone and Untamed.  Along with being behind the scenes, Deborah is the founder of a company dedicated to the development and production of films by and about women. Learn more about Deborah and her Company at www.fullmoonfilmsny.com

Deborah Kampmeier is a writer, director and producer.  Her second feature film Hounddog, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.  It won the top jury prize, Best of the Show, at the 2009 Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto and Best Feature at the 2008 Foyle Film Festival in Northern Ireland.   The film stars, Dakota Fanning, Robin Wright Penn, Piper Lauri and David Morse.

Deborah’s first feature film Virgin, which she made for $65,000 was nominated for two 2004 Independent Spirit Awards, the John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for under $500,000) and the Best Female Lead for Elisabeth Moss’ performance in the film. In addition, Kampmeier won Best Screenwriter at the 2003 Hamptons International Film Festival. And Virgin garnered Best Feature Film at the 2003 Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, won Best Independent Spirit at the Santa Fe Film Festival and Best Actress at the Sedona Film Festival. Virgin had its world premiere at the 2003 IFP Los Angeles Film Festival.

Deborah’s third feature SPLiT will premiere at the 2016 Sarasota Film Festival.  It is the story of one woman’s journey to claim her own darkness and stop putting it in the hands of her lover.  The fim stars Amy Ferguson, Morgan Spector, Anna Mouglalis, Fred Lehne, Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Raina Von Waldenburg.

Deborah has also written and directed three short films.  Eat Your Heart Out, Deborah’s third short film, was an official selection of the 2002 New York International Independent Film Festival and can be seen on dvd as an extra with her feature Virgin.  Deborah is currently in development with several projects including Persephone, Lonely Hunter andLove Struggle.

Deborah has worked in theater in New York City for the past 25 years as a writer, director, actor and teacher.  Deborah began her career in theater as an actor, training at the National Shakespeare Conservatory from 1983-85.  She went on to study for over a decade with renowned acting teacher Michael Howard, who is credited as her primary influence as an actor, teacher  and artist.   She has taught acting in NYC for the past 20 years at such institutions as the Michael Howard Studios, NYU, Stella Adler Studios, Playwrights Horizons and The National Shakespeare Conservatory. She is a member of NYWIFT, IFP and Film Independent.

Deborah is the founder of Full Moon Films, a company dedicated to the development and production of films by and about women.  Full Moon Films is located upstate NY where Deborah lives with her daughter Sophia and husband John.

SPLIT TEASER 2 from Full Moon Films on Vimeo.