Talia Lugacy

Talia Lugacy is an American film director, writer and producer. She is best known for her work on the films Descent and This Is Not a War Story.

Life and career Lugacy was born in Brooklyn, New York to Moroccan Jewish and Greek parents. She applied to New York University when she was 14.

She graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She is an assistant professor of Screen Studies at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School.

Lugacy's debut feature film, Descent, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007 and it was a New York Times Critics' Pick. She is also slated to direct the upcoming feature film Dark Days & the Dawn.

Lugacy's upcoming feature film, Ruby Road, was shot in 2025 and is expected for a 2026 premiere. The film stars Frances Fisher, Will Patton, and Lauren Holly. Lugacy and her forthcoming film were selected by U.S. in Progress at their 2025 event in Poland, receiving three awards for VFX and sound post-production. The feature was also a recipient of the 2025 SFFILM Rainin Grant in San Francisco .

In 2025, she was named one of the Film-Video recipients of the Guggenheim Fellowship.

Filmography Year Film Director Writer Producer Note 2005 Little Black Dress Short film 2007 Descent Feature film 2021 This Is Not a War Story Feature filmTBARuby Road Feature film TBA Dark Days & the Dawn Feature film As actress 2014: The Shape of Something Squashed 2021: This Is Not a War Story Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.2021WinnerAtlanta Underground Film FestivalJury Prize Best Feature NarrativeThis Is Not a War Story Urbanworld Film Festival Workers Unite Film Festival Cinelounge Film Festival WinnerSan Francisco Indie FestAudience Award, Best Feature Narrative Indie Street Film Festival Woods Hole Film Festival WinnerNew York Women in Film & TelevisionBest Director Urbanworld Film Festival Tallgrass Film Festival 2022 WinnerBlackbird Film FestivalJury Prize Best Feature Narrative NominatedIndependent Spirit AwardsJohn Cassavetes Award