I've been editing films & videos professionally for 30+ years, currently an independent contractor available for work. One of the projects I worked on in 2023 was nominated for a NY Emmy Award and another video I worked on was short-listed for a 2021 Academy Award (yep, almost won an Oscar). Projects I edited have won 2nd place in the 2022 Webbys; been nominated for Emmys (thrice!); helped social media campaigns raise funds; educated the public on non-profit organizations and their work; assisted documentaries in securing funding; and gotten films into festivals all over the world.  My original experimental work has been exhibited at the Philadelphia Art Alliance and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

I edit documentaries (long-form, short-form and every form in-between), as well as educational, industrial, medical/pharmaceutical videos; documentary-based as well as scripted projects; network promos and spots; abstract and experimental projects; and probably some other stuff – just ask!  (For more details, check out my resume in the sidebar.)  

Bring me on board to edit, rescue, finish, fix or critique your project - let my many years of experience help you tell your story.

Hire me for your professional editing needs.
Valerie Keller
valrikat@gmail.com

"Art of Survival" screened at the Urban Dreams Mental Health Film Festival

My partners and I were thrilled that our documentary Art of Survival was chosen as an official entry in the Urban Dreams Mental Health Film Festival, which ran from May 2—May 4, 2024 in Manhattan. Art of Survival is a short documentary about the Kensington Storefront, a drop-in arts center in the heart of Philadelphia's opioid crisis. It was produced by the collective Hidden River Films, a partnership consisting of me, Tony Heriza and James Wasserman. Tony and I attended the Urban Dreams Mental Health Film Festival last weekend, and took part in the filmmaker panel discussion after the screening.

(That's me in the polka dot dress, and Tony is next to me)

The Second Trauma

The Second Trauma, co-produced by The Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting at Temple University and the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, was shown to a packed auditorium at Temple University on April 17, 2024, followed by a lively panel discussion.

The Second Trauma, a powerful 25-minute documentary led by gun violence survivor
Oronde McClain, takes viewers on a journey to the heart of Philadelphia, where
communities are grappling with the devastating impact of record-setting violence.
Through intimate interviews and raw emotion, Philadelphians share their lived
experiences and offer invaluable insights into how the media, journalism students, and
news consumers can do better.

Produced and directed by Logan Center Director Yvonne Latty, The Second Trauma
challenges conventional reporting practices and advocates for a more empathetic and
solution-oriented approach to storytelling.

Art of Survival – gala premiere at PAFA + links to trailer & PBS article

The documentary "Art of Survival" by Hidden River Films premiered at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts on June 27th to a sold-out auditorium.  The gala event was a wonderful launch for this labor of love – with editing, sound design and color correction by me – that started in 2018 and was completed in 2023. The film is a portrait of the Kensington Storefront, an open arts studio in a converted storefront from 2017–2020, run by Mural Arts Philadelphia and other neighborhood partner organizations, in coordination with the City of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, and staffed by artists who ran creativity workshops in painting, drawing, writing, weaving, music, arts & crafts and more to a community plagued by addiction and housing insecurity, as well as a vibrant population of people in recovery from addiction. At the Storefront, you could stop by for a chat, stay for some tea or a sandwich, check out donated clothing, and participate in artistic endeavors.  You could show up on Open Mic Night and sing a song, play a tune, or speak your truth.  It offered a low barrier oasis, where you didn't have to be in recovery, but if you were ready to go there, people who could guide you toward services, housing, and self-respect were on site and eager to assist.  Sometimes, the chance to paint a picture, or draw a graph of your life story, or write a poem, could be the difference between despair and hope.  This film asks the question: Can art save lives?

Watch the trailer

Read the WHYY article

Natalia's Transformation

To celebrate New Alternatives for Children's 40th anniversary, this video was produced by Paksima Productions to highlight the story of Natalia, who lived the first 9 years of her life in a hospital, until NAC stepped in to support her family in figuring out how to get her home. Get ready to fall in love with the charming Natalia and her sweet family.  

At the NAC 40th Anniversary Gala this week, 2.1 million dollars was raised, and special guest Jewel mentioned the video twice in her speech.

To learn more about NAC, click here.

I edited the video, did color correction and audio mix. Motion graphics by Josh Coyne.

EXCITING UPDATE: Webby Award nominations

The podcast SOUNDS LIKE HATE received two nominations in the 2022 Webby Awards, including episodes I edited.  I'm bursting with pride!  Episodes from the 2-part series "Fostering Hate" finished in second place in the category "diversity & inclusion", and episodes from the 2-part series "The Unwelcome" made it into the top 5 in the category "news & politics".  If you're unfamiliar with the Webbys (I was!), it's the top industry awards for online content of all kinds. 

Bloc Power: bringing green jobs and green energy to underserved communities

I was thrilled to work with producer Jamila Paksima on a series of videos for BlocPower, a company that brings job training, job opportunities and green energy solutions to underserved communities in Brooklyn and beyond. These are just 2 of the videos highlighting aspects of BlocPower's work: