Susan Kaplan was born in Miami Beach, Florida, began her film studies as a freshman at CU/Boulder, continued at New York University where she graduated with a BFA in Acting. She is the founder and executive director of DocuClub, widely recognized as the pre-eminent workshop and membership organization for documentary filmmakers in New York City. For more than 10 years, DocuClub has nurtured filmmakers by offering a noncompetitive, safe environment to screen and pitch their projects in production.
Susan Kaplan has made several award-winning documentary shorts. Her first feature documentary, Small Wonders, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1996. She is also one of the producers of the dramatic feature film version of Small Wonders titled Music of the Heart,” directed by Wes Craven and starring Meryl Streep.
Susan formed her production company Hibiscus Films, with her husband David Friedson in 1998 with a mission to bring to the screen compelling real life stories that move the viewer to take action personally and/or for the good of the world.
Three of Hearts marks Kaplan’s directorial debut and is the culmination of eight years of work. She currently has two other films in production with Hibiscus.