Lotus Beast Productions was formed in 2019 by long time collaborators Stephan Mazurek (Mazurek Films) and Liz Sung (Liz Sung Productions). Based in Chicago, we strive to tell stories that have the potential to connect us as humans. With a combined 20-year working experience in film and video production, Lotus Beast was founded with the goal of creating long form documentaries that could give our stories the depth it deserved.

Mazurek’s experience as a director of photography on full length documentaries such as Louder Than A Bomb, Love is a Verb, The Road Up, and Million Dollar Pigeons brings vision to the company. Sung’s multifaceted skillset as a producer, director, editor, videographer, and motion graphics designer adds flexibility to the company. Together, our skillsets ensure that from conception to screen, the stories are told are authentic, intimate, and thought-provoking.

Lotus Beast Productions currently has two feature documentary films in production: Laoch: Defy the Odds (completed in April 2024), and Muntu (currently in post-production).

Laoch: Defy the Odds is about Thomas McCague, an Irish powerlifter with dwarfism, who embarks on a quest to conquer the sport of powerlifting, proving that strength comes in many forms.

Muntu is a documentary about Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago–– the 2nd oldest continually running African dance company in America. Filming began in 2022, and is currently in post-production.