Bruce Beffa
Bio

Bruce BeffaFor over three decades I’ve been blessed to travel to more than 40 countries on six continents producing, directing and writing multi Emmy Award-winning documentary film, television and digital projects – with over 120 credits to my name. This work has aired on networks including PBS, ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, Discovery, Fox Sports, Disney, ESPN, The Olympic Channel, TBS and TNT.

Currently, I’m Supervising Producer for The Quiet Diplomat, a feature documentary on former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that premiered in Berlin in February 2024. Forced to leave his home during the Korean War, Ban and his family – haunted by starvation – were fed and given shelter by the United Nations. Ban went on to dedicate his adult life to global transformation, culminating five decades as leader of the UN.

In development is Loss/Found, a series of raw, poignant, honest and uplifting one-on-one talks with Americans in the arts, science, politics, sports, entertainment and beyond. Loss/Found will explore what it means to lose a loved one.

Completed projects with Hollywood producer Frank Marshall and The Kennedy/ Marshall Company included Five from Five (Five Rings Films) where I helped create and develop this Olympic-related documentary series (which later won an AIPS Award); and Boston: A Documentary (on the history of the Boston Marathon), where I served as producer/ consultant.

In 2017 I developed and pre-produced the World Science Sports Festival for the World Science Festival in New York City, what was planned to be the country’s largest tech savvy, interactive “sports meets science” live event.

In 2016 I collaborated with the Creative Director of the World Science Festival to develop, coordinate and produce several programs, including the NYC stage performance of Awakening the Mind: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Oliver Sacks.

2015 continued my work with the World Science Festival. This included writing, producing and directing short films for the “Pioneers in Science” series. In addition, as part of Beffa Films, I developed a yearlong series on the Baltimore Orioles and the city of Baltimore.

In 2014 I partnered with the Creative Director at the World Science Festival to develop, coordinate and produce their advertising “image” campaign. I also consulted with and developed numerous programs/ series including: The Mystery of Genius (for World Science Festival); and 100 Years of Golf’s US Open (for the USGA).

From 2007 through 2013 I was commissioned by Fox Sports West and LA’s pro franchises to tell the story of Los Angeles through the lens of sport. The result: multiple LA Emmys, and an LA Press Club Award.

Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner sang the praises of a five-hour series of films that aired from 2011 through 2013 exploring LA’s beloved Dodgers, including Chavez Ravine: 50 Years Inside Dodger Stadium.

These projects followed closely on the heels of another series written, produced and directed for Fox Sports West in 2010 and 2011: 50 Years Under the Halo: Angels Baseball50 Years Under the Halo garnered three LA Emmy Awards, an LA Press Club Award and a nomination for “Non-News Writing”.

That same year I earned a national Emmy Award for my creative storytelling of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games  – my 11th Olympics – through NBC’s coverage on NBCOlympics.com.

In 2009 and 2010 I created, wrote and produced the five-time LA Emmy Award-winning Golden Days, Purple Knights: 50 Seasons of Lakers Glory for Fox Sports West. This 13-part series of half-hour shows was narrated with the smoldering voice of actor Wendell Pierce (of HBO’s The Wire and Treme fame).

2009 also saw my being honored with two LA Emmy Awards for True Blue Stories, a year-long series airing in 2008 on Fox Sports West/ Prime Ticket that honored baseball’s Dodgers’ 50 years in LA.

In addition, a national Emmy came through my work creating short stories for NBC’s coverage the 2008 Beijing Olympics on NBCOlympics.com.

In 2007 I conceived, wrote and directed Last Stand: Ibragimov vs. Holyfield, a behind-the-scenes documentary where I spent time at the training camps of both heavyweight fighters. This program aired on ESPN and throughout the world.

In 2005 and 2006 I consulted as author on Sports Potential, an internet venture chaired by former Sen. Bill Bradley. Its mission: to encourage children and teenagers to become more active in sports.

Also, in 2004 and 2005 I utilized my extensive global network of contacts to collaborate as Coordinating Producer on the creation of A Place in Time, a documentary directed by Angelina Jolie.  A Place in Time, which premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, involved 38 camera crews on seven continents filming on the same date, at the same time.

From 1995 to 2005 I served as senior producer, writer and director for the acclaimed filmmaker Bud Greenspan and Cappy Productions. In the process, I traveled to more than 30 countries directing and interviewing hundreds of personalities along the way – from Sir Roger Bannister, “the first human to break the 4-minute mile”, to modern dance visionary Merce Cunningham.

During that time I wrote, produced and directed for more than 20 widely praised documentaries seen in 100 countries and throughout the U.S. including on PBS, Showtime, ESPN, TBS, Discovery, Disney, NBC, ABC and CBS. These documentaries earned numerous international honors, including Emmy and New York Festivals Awards. Some of these credits include: Kings of the Ring (Showtime); Ageless Heroes (PBS); Barrier Breakers (ESPN); and a series of Olympic Glory” films that chronicled the 1996 Atlanta, 1998 Nagano, 2000 Sydney, and 2002 Salt Lake Olympics (all on Showtime).

And in 1993 and 1994 I acted as senior producer and writer for the Special Projects unit at Turner Broadcasting System, covering the 1994 Lillehammer, Norway Olympics and 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. During this time I traveled to more than a dozen countries uncovering stories, then conceived and wrote a series of short films. One of my greatest professional joys remains the collaboration with preeminent Russian scholar and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Robert Massie, where we created numerous jaw-dropping, haunting short films from the Soviet and Czarist past.