Eric Daniel Metzgar is a filmmaker who lives and works in San Francisco. Metzgar's documentary titled Reporter chronicles New York Times journalist Nick Kristof's 2007 voyage to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The film includes an interview with former Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda and other key players in the Congolese power struggle. Reporter premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. It was broadcast on HBO and nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Informational Programming -- Long Form." Metzgar shot and edited the film as well. Celebrity and actor Ben Affleck collaborated with Metzgar as one of a few producers of the film. Metzgar's second documentary film, Life. Support. Music., premiered at the 2008 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Life. Support. Music. tells the story of Jason Crigler, a successful New York-based guitarist who in 2004 suffered a devastating brain injury. The film tracks Crigler's astonishing recovery. The film features interviews with Norah Jones, Marshall Crenshaw, Teddy Thompson and others. Life. Support. Music. won many awards on the film festival circuit, including the Enel Cuore Award for Best Social Documentary at the 2008 Rome International Film Festival, and the Audience Choice award at the 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The film was broadcast as part of the P.O.V. series on PBS. Metzgar edited and shot the film as well. Metzgar's debut film, a documentary entitled The Chances of the World Changing, which he directed, produced, shot and edited, premiered at the 2006 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The film documents two years in the life of Richard Ogust, a man struggling to save over a thousand endangered turtles and tortoises from extinction. The Chances of the World Changing screened at film festivals, won several awards and was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award in the "Axium Truer than Fiction" category. It also aired on PBS as part of the P.O.V. series in 2007. Metzgar edited and executive produced Give Up Tomorrow, directed by Michael Collins and produced by Marty Syjuco. Give Up Tomorrow won the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. It also won a Special Jury Prize at the festival for Best New Director and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Investigative Journalism in 2013. The film also won the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film was broadcast on POV in 2012. In 2008, Metzgar completed a short first-person documentary titled Beholder, as part of the International Documentary Challenge. The film won the Documentary Challenge's "Original Vision Award," and also won "Best Writing" and "Best Use of First Person." Metzgar also writes screenplays and directs music videos. In 2015, Metzgar completed his fictional feature debut, titled "For the Coyotes," which he wrote and directed. The film stars James Carpenter and Josh Schell.
