Ridgewood ‘s, Libby Geist Named to the Hollywood Reporter’s 21st annual definitive list of the industry’s top execs, 35 and under

Ridgewood ‘s, Libby Geist Named to the Hollywood Reporter’s 21st annual definitive list of the industry’s top execs, 35 and under

 Libby Geist, 34Senior Director of Development, ESPN Films

For three years, Geist has run development for ESPN Films’ influential 30 for 30 documentary series, finding stories and filmmakers that have ranged from Michael Rapaport to Alex Gibney. In 2013, the married mother of two (her husband,Kevin Wildes, oversees ESPN2’s Olbermann and Bill Simmons’ recently launched The Grantland Basketball Houron ESPN) also spearheaded the Nine for IX series. The latter marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX and featured nine films — all directed by women — recounting milestone stories about such barrier-breakers as Venus Williams and Pat Summitt. Unlike her father (veteran CBS News correspondent Bill Geist) and brother (Today anchor Willie Geist), the University of Wisconsin grad has no aspirations of appearing in front of the camera. “Growing up, it wasn’t unusual for my brother and I to walk into the kitchen and stumble into a full crew and TV setup,” she says. “But I’ve always loved documentaries, so being behind the camera was the only place to be.”

MY BIG BREAK
“I had just started working in PR — I was awful — when the president of the company [Dan Klores] announced he was leaving to start a production company [Shoot the Moon Productions]. He needed a right-hand man, and I dove at the chance.”

FAVORITE MOVIE
“Searching for Sugar Man”

I CAN’T GET THROUGH THE WORKDAY WITHOUT
“Adding to my Netflix documentary queue.”

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK, YOU’LL FIND ME
“Chasing my dog and little boys at the Great Lawn in Central Park.”

MY INDULGENCE
“Oreos, usually just after working out.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/person/libby-geist-34