Peter spirer
Independent Filmmaker
Other Roles: Director, Producer, Editor
Areas of Focus: Documentaries, Feature Films, Foreign Films
Organization: Rugged Entertainment
Website: https://www.ruggedentertainment.com/
Biography
As President/CEO of Rugged Entertainment and Co-Founder of One Bowl Productions, I, Peter Spirer, have spent my career bringing compelling stories to life, earning Academy Award and Emmy Award nominations along the way. My work has been twice featured at the Sundance Film Festival, and I’ve had the privilege of producing and directing over 32 films. Highlights include the feature films Just Another Day, starring Wood Harris and Jamie Hector from The Wire, and Dunsmore, featuring W. Earl Brown, Talia Shire, and Kadeem Hardison.
My catalog of documentaries is a testament to my passion for impactful storytelling, from the groundbreaking music doc Rhyme and Reason, honored by Rolling Stone as one of the 40 greatest music documentaries, to titles like Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life and The Legend of 420, which explores cannabis legalization. Collaborations with QD3 brought projects like the BEEF series (I-III), Thug Angel: Life of an Outlaw (a tribute to Tupac Shakur), and Feel Rich, celebrating urban music culture.
One of my proudest accomplishments is Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation, which spotlights the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team and their fight to raise awareness about Native sovereignty. I’m humbled that this film is now part of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian’s permanent collection in New York City. I also revisited the legacy of Sacheen Littlefeather in Sacheen: Breaking the Silence, highlighting her historic stand at the Academy Awards on behalf of Marlon Brando.
