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BIO:
Jilann Spitzmiller is a Director, Cinematographer and Writer whose work has won more than 20 awards and has been shown around the globe. She directed, wrote, shot and edited the feature documentary MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY, which premiered at SXSW and won 3 Best Documentary awards. She was recently a segment director on Trevor Noah's WORLD ACCORDING TO FOOTBALL, on which she also worked as a cinematographer. She directed two fiction shorts for the MEOW WOLF exhibit in Las Vegas, as well as several mini-docs on the exhibit artists. Jilann is currently writing and directing a comedic web series based in New Mexico featuring all NM talent and crew. As a cinematographer, Jilann owns her own Sony FX9 package and enjoys shooting documentaries from independents to streaming projects. She has recently been working as a DP and operator on an untitled Rory Kennedy project, and is the DP on Kahane Cooperman's doc, CREEDE USA, which will premiere at SXSW in 2025. Jilann shot Adrienne Lenker of Big Thief for LOST ANGEL: THE GENIUS OF JUDEE SILL, DP'd on FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO and has recently lensed for LITTLE MINX, NBC NEWS and THE ARTISTS PROFILE ARCHIVE. Jilann DP’d an episode of CNN’s THE HUNT WITH JOHN WALSH, shot for PBS' THE GREAT AMERICAN READ and for the Netflix doc series, ROTTEN. She also shot and wrote two episodes of HOME MAKERS for Zillow. With her filmmaking partner and husband, Hank Rogerson, she produced the award-winning SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS and co-directed, produced and edited HOMELAND which aired on National PBS. Their film STILL DREAMING had an award-winning festival run and aired on PBS. Jilann has freelanced extensively in the documentary field, directing, writing and shooting two seasons of the Discovery series MEDICAL DIARY and producing, writing and directing for the NBC series LIFE MOMENTS. She has been a SUNDANCE INSTITUTE fellow, and is a juror for several documentary awards and grants, as well as a frequent workshop presenter at events such as NALIP Producer's Lab and Oregon Doc Camp. Jilann's work has also appeared on BBC, Sundance Channel, Starz/Encore, Al Jazeera, Canal+ and dozens of other channels and streamers worldwide. CREDITS & CLIENTS INCLUDE: CINEMATOGRAPHER: "CREEDE USA" - dir. Kahane Cooperman - DP "THE TALLEST DWARF" - dir. Julie Wyman - Segment DP "THE TRIAL OF ALEC BALDWIN"dir. Rory Kennedy- DP/Operator "WORLD ACCORDING TO FOOTBALL" - Ep 2, Showtime, EP Trevor Noah "LOST ANGEL: THE GENIUS OF JUDEE SILL" - Segment DP "FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO" - Segment DP "MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY" - (also Director/Writer)AppleTV "TOMORROW'S WOMEN" - NBC NEWS "ARTIST PROFILE ARCHIVE" - Billie Zangewa "ROTTEN" Netflix- ZERO POINT ZERO Productions "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ" - PBS - Dune segment "THE HUNT WITH JOHN WALSH" - CNN "THE EARLY SHOW WITH ALAX" - State of NM, Regional Emmy "STILL DREAMING" - PBS - (also Prod/Director) MEOW WOLF BRANDED CONTENT (also Director) ZILLOW - Small Screen - "Home Makers" KAISER PERMANENTE - Branded content videos for their community outreach effort (also Writer/Editor) PBS, ITVS "Circle of Stories" - Award-winning multimedia website (also Producer, Editor) DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL - "Medical Diaries" - multiple episodes for Seasons 1 & 2 A & E BIOGRAPHY - "Sunset Strip" VH-1 - "Watershed: Indigo Girls" - music video "Chickenman" |
GEAR :
CAMERA GEAR THAT I OWN: -Sony FX9 package- w/ 28-135mm lens & optional prime lens kit (24, 50, 84mm) + 70-200mm CAMERAS THAT I HAVE ACCESS TO FOR RENTAL: -Sony FX6 -Sony FS7 m2 -Sony FS5 (2) -Canon C300 SOUND: Sony lavalier mic Sennheiser M60 directional mic with boom pole LIGHTS/GRIP: Astra 6x bicolor LEDs Arri DP light kit (150, 2x 300, 650) Grip kit including C-stands, 4x4 diffusion, 2x3 flags, flex fills, cinesaddle, apple box, sand bags, etc... DRONE DJI MINI 2 
Shooting at the Duomo, Florence, Italy
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DIRECTOR:
"BLANKTON" - comedic fiction webseries - pilot - in post production
MEOW WOLF's OMEGA MART - 2 science fiction shorts included in their new Las Vegas, NV exhibit
"MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY"-AppleTV, American Airlines, Lufthansa, etc (also Co-Producer/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer), Fathom Events (600+ theaters)
"STILL DREAMING" - PBS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer/Director)
"HOMELAND" - PBS, ITVS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer, Writer, Editor)
"MEDICAL DIARY" - DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL - several episodes for Seasons 1 & 2 (also Writer/Cinematographer)
"LIFE MOMENTS" NBC - (Field Producer/Director, Writer) several episodes for Season 1
"CRITICAL CONDITION" - POV, PBS - (also Co-Producer)
ZILLOW - Small Screen - Home Makers, Season 1, episode 1 & 4 (Co-Director, Writer, Cinematographer)
ZERO POINT ZERO Productions - "Rotten" - Episode 1 (Segment Director/Cinematographer)
CIRCLE OF STORIES - PBS, ITVS, Award-winning multimedia website (also Producer, Editor)
NM DEPT OF HEALTH - "Day One" and "Day Two" video series for new parents (also Writer/Editor)
SOLUTION BASED CASEWORK - Training videos for foster care social workers and families
INDIGO GIRLS - Music video "Chickenman" for Sony's "Watershed" biographical compilation (also Cinematographer/Editor)
PRODUCER
"MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY" (Director/Co-Producer/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer)
"SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS" - PBS, BBC, ITVS - Award-winning doc feature, premiered at Sundance in competition
"STILL DREAMING" - Award-winning feature documentary, premiered at DOCNYC
"HOMELAND" - PBS, ITVS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer, Writer, Editor)
"CIRCLE OF STORIES" - PBS, ITVS, Award-winning multimedia website (also Producer, Editor)
"CRITICAL CONDITION"- Public Policy Productions - POV, PBS (Co-Producer, Co-Director)
NM DEPT OF HEALTH - "Day One" and "Day Two" video series for new parents ( also Writer/Editor)
SOLUTION BASED CASEWORK - Training videos for foster care social workers and families
"BLANKTON" - comedic fiction webseries - pilot - in post production
MEOW WOLF's OMEGA MART - 2 science fiction shorts included in their new Las Vegas, NV exhibit
"MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY"-AppleTV, American Airlines, Lufthansa, etc (also Co-Producer/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer), Fathom Events (600+ theaters)
"STILL DREAMING" - PBS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer/Director)
"HOMELAND" - PBS, ITVS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer, Writer, Editor)
"MEDICAL DIARY" - DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL - several episodes for Seasons 1 & 2 (also Writer/Cinematographer)
"LIFE MOMENTS" NBC - (Field Producer/Director, Writer) several episodes for Season 1
"CRITICAL CONDITION" - POV, PBS - (also Co-Producer)
ZILLOW - Small Screen - Home Makers, Season 1, episode 1 & 4 (Co-Director, Writer, Cinematographer)
ZERO POINT ZERO Productions - "Rotten" - Episode 1 (Segment Director/Cinematographer)
CIRCLE OF STORIES - PBS, ITVS, Award-winning multimedia website (also Producer, Editor)
NM DEPT OF HEALTH - "Day One" and "Day Two" video series for new parents (also Writer/Editor)
SOLUTION BASED CASEWORK - Training videos for foster care social workers and families
INDIGO GIRLS - Music video "Chickenman" for Sony's "Watershed" biographical compilation (also Cinematographer/Editor)
PRODUCER
"MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY" (Director/Co-Producer/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer)
"SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS" - PBS, BBC, ITVS - Award-winning doc feature, premiered at Sundance in competition
"STILL DREAMING" - Award-winning feature documentary, premiered at DOCNYC
"HOMELAND" - PBS, ITVS - Award-winning feature documentary (also Producer, Writer, Editor)
"CIRCLE OF STORIES" - PBS, ITVS, Award-winning multimedia website (also Producer, Editor)
"CRITICAL CONDITION"- Public Policy Productions - POV, PBS (Co-Producer, Co-Director)
NM DEPT OF HEALTH - "Day One" and "Day Two" video series for new parents ( also Writer/Editor)
SOLUTION BASED CASEWORK - Training videos for foster care social workers and families
At Sundance Film Festival premiering "SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS"
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On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation shooting "HOMELAND"
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FESTIVALS, HONORS AND AWARDS [ selected ]
World Premiere, SXSW - '"Meow Wolf: Origin Story"
Grand Jury Award - "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - Las Cruces Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature, "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - Las Cruces Film Festival
Best Feature "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - El Paso Media Fest
Sundance Film Festival, Documentary Competition, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best in Show, Bend Film Festival, Bend OR, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Special Jury Prize, Independent Film Fest of Boston, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Orinda Film Fest, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary, Ojai Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary, Bethel Film Fest, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary Award, Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Director’s Choice Award, Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Feature Documentary, Fargo Film Fest, “Homeland”
Audience Award for Best Documentary, AFI FEST, “Homeland”
Best Short Documentary, Nashville Independent Film Festival, “Homeland”
Best Short Documentary, American Indian Film Festival, “Bless Me With a Good Life”
Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, “Critical Condition”
Gold Remi Award - WorldFest Houston, “Critical Condition”
Best Documentary, PhilaFilm: International Film Festival, “Critical Condition”
Best Feature Documentary, Lake Erie Arts & Film Fest “Still Dreaming”
Best Documentary Audience Award Nominee, BendFilm “Still Dreaming”
Excellence in Filmmaking - Sedona International Film Festival "Still Dreaming"
FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES
Stowe Story Lab, Narrative Lab, Stowe VT
WISC, New Mexico Filmmaker's Academy
Sundance Institute, Documentary Lab, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Mesa Refuge Writer’s Fellowship, Point Reyes, California
JURIES [ selected ]
Juror, BendFilm
Judge, International Documentary Challenge
Judge, New Mexico Women in Film Fiesta
Juror, Roy Dean Film Grant, Los Angeles
Judge, Documentary, New Mexico Filmmaker’s Showcase
World Premiere, SXSW - '"Meow Wolf: Origin Story"
Grand Jury Award - "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - Las Cruces Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature, "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - Las Cruces Film Festival
Best Feature "Meow Wolf: Origin Story" - El Paso Media Fest
Sundance Film Festival, Documentary Competition, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best in Show, Bend Film Festival, Bend OR, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Special Jury Prize, Independent Film Fest of Boston, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Orinda Film Fest, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary, Ojai Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary, Bethel Film Fest, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Documentary Award, Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Director’s Choice Award, Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Best Feature Documentary, Fargo Film Fest, “Homeland”
Audience Award for Best Documentary, AFI FEST, “Homeland”
Best Short Documentary, Nashville Independent Film Festival, “Homeland”
Best Short Documentary, American Indian Film Festival, “Bless Me With a Good Life”
Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, “Critical Condition”
Gold Remi Award - WorldFest Houston, “Critical Condition”
Best Documentary, PhilaFilm: International Film Festival, “Critical Condition”
Best Feature Documentary, Lake Erie Arts & Film Fest “Still Dreaming”
Best Documentary Audience Award Nominee, BendFilm “Still Dreaming”
Excellence in Filmmaking - Sedona International Film Festival "Still Dreaming"
FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES
Stowe Story Lab, Narrative Lab, Stowe VT
WISC, New Mexico Filmmaker's Academy
Sundance Institute, Documentary Lab, “Shakespeare Behind Bars”
Mesa Refuge Writer’s Fellowship, Point Reyes, California
JURIES [ selected ]
Juror, BendFilm
Judge, International Documentary Challenge
Judge, New Mexico Women in Film Fiesta
Juror, Roy Dean Film Grant, Los Angeles
Judge, Documentary, New Mexico Filmmaker’s Showcase