Marcello Rollando Talks Documentary Features with Director Jeff L. Lieberman

Directed by Jeff L. Lieberman, Bella! opened theatrically in New York at the Village East by Angelika and will open in Los Angeles on Friday, August 25, 2023 at the Laemmle. 

As Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi lead the nation, they travel a path blazed by several women before them, notably Bella Abzug. In 1970, when the United States was ruled by men, Bella challenged the status quo, running a successful campaign from the streets of Manhattan that elevated her all the way to the halls of Congress. With her trademark hat and Bronx swagger, Bella entered Congress swinging, battling for credit cards for women, equality for the LGBTQ community and trailblazing a path for leadership that reflected the broad diversity of the country.

But, the most recognizable woman in politics also became the target of a Washington establishment resistant to change. With her eyes set on breaking the boys’ club of The US Senate or becoming New York’s first female mayor, Bella battled mounting forces from both the right and the left, and the powers of the Nixon Administration, the CIA, FBI, even The New York Times.

Using never-before-seen home movies, audio diaries, and a vast trove of newly-discovered news footage, Bella! delves into a colorful and gritty era where one woman sacrificed her own political ambitions for future generations of female leadership. 

BELLA! is written, directed and produced by Jeff Lieberman and producer Jamila C. Fairley. Lieberman is the Writer, Director and Producer of the feature documentaries: “Bella!”, “The Amazing Nina Simone” and “Re-Emerging: The Jews of Nigeria”. Lieberman’s most recent feature documentary film, “The Amazing Nina Simone” premiered in 2015 and played in over 100 cinemas in more than 10 countries, remaining in theatres for 4 weeks in several cities.