Obituaries
Chicago Documentary Filmmaker Dies in Bus Crash in Uganda
David Steiner, 51, was in the East African country shooting his next film.
David Steiner, a Chicago filmmaker who produced an award-winning documentary about Englewood's Barbara A. Sizemore Academy charter school, was killed Monday in a bus crash in Uganda while he was in the East African country to shoot his next movie, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Steiner, 51, was on his way to celebrate Hanukkah with a group of Hebrew-speaking Ugandans when the accident happened, the report stated. He was sitting at the front of the bus when a reckless driver hit it, the report added.
Steiner's son, Itamar, and Terrence Dantzler, one of two Sizemore students who was traveling with the Steiners, also were injured in the crash, the Sun-Times reports.
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In August, Steiner released "Saving Barbara Sizemore," a documentary that followed the battle to keep the Englewood charter school open after Chicago Public Schools threatened to close it in 2015. The Lincolnwood native worked with many of the school's students to create the film, and although he's credited as the director, Steiner told "Chicago Tonight" that the movie is a truly collaborative effort.
Steiner was in Uganda to film his next documentary, which was to be about two Sudanese refugee boys his son had met while going to school in Israel, according to the Sun-Times. The movie would focus on the teens' return to South Sudan and their decision to walk to neighboring Uganda, the report added.
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Friends and colleagues posted messages on social media that offered condolences and expressed sadness over the filmmaker's death.
Fortunate to have known David & his work. Chicago filmmaker David Steiner killed in Uganda https://t.co/nvsNrF2Tbx
— Cynthia McCafferty (@CynMcC) December 28, 2016
I've lost a friend, brother & part of my childhood. In shock. https://t.co/XIXNbBWQtX RIP David Steiner, RIP, a true mensch. Very sad.
— Ben Carmel (@BenCpdx) December 27, 2016
My condolences to the family of filmmaker & activist David J Steiner. Both our films screened at @NdifFest We also shared a round table talk https://t.co/KAfXAnr72b
— Molatelo Mainetje (@MissMolatelo) December 27, 2016
Growing up in Lincolnwood, Steiner moved to Israel when he was 14, the Sun-Times reports. While in Israel, he ran an agricultural school and served in the army during the country's war with Lebanon, the report added.
Steiner eventually went to film school in Los Angeles before returning to Chicago to manage buildings his father owned, the report stated. He worked as conflict mediator, too, while still finding time to for filmmaking, the report added.
He is survived by his son, Itamar, and two daughters, Sahar and Maya.
More via the Chicago Sun-Times
Detail from the poster for "Saving Barbara Sizemore," a documentary produced by David Steiner (far left). (photo via movie poster)
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