The Perfect Neighbor

Today on Art of the Cut we’re talking with editor Viridiana Lieberman about the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-nominated Best Documentary, The Perfect Neighbor. The film was also nominated for the Grand Jury prize at Sundance, and the Audience Award at SXSW, it won the Cinema Eye Honors Award for Best Directing and Viri was nominated for Best Editing. Viri was also nominated for an ACE Eddie and won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for Best Editing.

Viri was last on Art of the Cut for her work on the documentary, Carlos. Her other work includes directing and editing the ESPN film, Born to Play, and editing on docs like The Sentence, 30 for 30, and Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power.

Our discussion today includes using structure to hook the audience, how sometimes an iPhone is an editing tool, and why the term “b-roll” is cringe-worthy.

If you want to read along with this interview and see exclusive photos, check out the BorisFX blog at

borisfx.com/blog/aotc