JESSE EDWARDS
Jesse is a three-time Emmy award-winning Director, Producer, Writer and Cinematographer.
Jesse began work in film as an editor and worked through about every crew position until directing commercial campaigns for brands such as Disney, National Geographic, and BMW. In 2017 he began producing and directing episodic television, including National Geographic's Origins (2017), The Story of God (2019), and two seasons of the ESPN+ series: Draft Academy (2018, 2019). In 2020 Jesse started production on his debut feature film, The Stolen Valley, where he served as the writer, producer, director and cinematographer.
The Stolen Valley (2022) premiered at the Nashville Film Festival, was distributed worldwide by BlueFox Entertainment, opened in theaters across the USA, and is now available through Apple TV / Amazon. It has won 12 awards, including Best Narrative Feature (Kanab Film Festival), Best Cinematography (LAFA), Best Actress and Best Director (Utah Film Festival).
Jesse's work has been seen by millions and has won many awards including an RFK Journalism Award, an Edward Murrow Award, 3 National Emmy Awards and over 30+ National Emmy Nominations.
Jesse is the founder of 323 Films, a production company dedicated to making movies that matter.
He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife and 4 children.
PRESS + AWARDS
2025 - Williamson Herald (PRESS) - “Nashville Local and Emmy Winner Edwards Wins at IndieFEST Film Awards”
2025 - IndieFEST Film Awards, Best Family Film + Best Director + Best Editing + Best Cinematography - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek”
2025 - Kanab Film Fest, Best Feature Film -“The Wildman of Shaggy Creek”
2025 - NYFA Review - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek: More Than Just a Legend”
2025 - New York Film Awards, Best Picture + Best Narrative Feature + Best Fantasy Film + Best Director + Best Supporting Actress + Best Young Actor + Best Child Actor + Best Child Actress + Best Editing - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek”
2025 - Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Picture + Best Narrative Feature + Best Director + Best Young Actor + Best Young Actress + Best Score - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek”
2025 - Zions Indie Film Festival, Best Feature Film 2nd Place - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek”
2025 - ScreenChatter Interview (VIDEO) - The Wildman of Shaggy Creek “Tony Toscano w/ Jesse Edwards + Allee-Sutton Hethcoat”
2025 - Fox 13 ‘The Place’ Interview (VIDEO) - “The Wildman of Shaggy Creek Premiere is in Utah”
2024 - Phoenix Cannon Interview (PODCAST) - “Filmmaking in the Wild West: BTS with Director of The Stolen Valley”
2024 - Hoy Sale Cine Review - The Stolen Valley “9/10 - A Story of Culture, Tradition, Sacrifice”
2024 - Film Threat Review - The Stolen Valley “8.5/10 - Filmmaker Wrings Suspense and Atmosphere Out of Visuals”
2024 - KUTV ‘Fresh Living’ Interview (VIDEO) - “‘The Stolen Valley Director / Actresses On Working In Utah”
2024 - Fox 13 ‘The Place’ Interview (VIDEO) - “‘The Stolen Valley Opens in Theaters This Weekend”
2023 - Variety - “Blue Fox Brings Indigenous Crime Thriller ‘The Stolen Valley’ to Market”
2023 - Kanab Film Fest, Best Narrative Feature + Best Actress + Best VFX - “The Stolen Valley”
2023 - Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Western + Best Cinematography - “The Stolen Valley”
2023 - Utah Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature + Best Director + Audience Choice Award + Best Actress + Best Actress - “The Stolen Valley”
2022 - “The Stolen Valley” World Premiere (VIDEO) - “The Stolen Valley Premieres at The Franklin Theatre”
2022 - Channel 5 News (VIDEO) - “Nashville Film Festival Features Edwards’ Debut Feature Film”
2021 - UK Film Review - "Life After: An Achievement That Stands Out"
2021 - NYIFA, Best Short Film - “Life After”
2021 - Top Shorts, Best Narrative Short + Best Director + Best Editing + Best Cinematography + Best Score - “Life After”
2021 - Behind The Work Interview (VIDEO) - “The World Needs More Artists Concerned With Who They Are Becoming”
2020 - Little Black Book (PRESS) - “Evolve Studios’ Powerful Film Brings People Together During Covid-19”
2020 - Indy Red Review - “Distance: An Actually Great and Relevant Movie”
2020 - NYIFA, Best Short Film + Best Director + Best Cinematography - “Distance”
2020 - Festigious Film Festival, Best Narrative Short + Best Director - “Distance”
2019 - Filmsupply Interview (ARTICLE) - “The Insane 100 Day Production Behind ESPN’s Draft Academy”
2017 - Film Shortage (PRESS) - “National Geographic’s New Unscripted Series, ORIGINS Trailer”
2017 - Filmsupply Interview (ARTICLE) - “Evolve’s Lighthearted-Danger-Ridden Approach to Filmmaking”
2015 - Sports Emmy, Associate Producer - “ESPN E:60 - Outstanding News Anthology”
2015 - RFK Humanitarian Award - “ESPN E:60 - Qatar’s World Cup”
2013 - Sports Emmy, Outstanding Camera Work, Cinematographer - “ESPN - Breaking The Silence: The Monika Korra Story”
2011 - News and Documentary Emmy, Best Promotional Campaign, Camera + Sound - “National Geographic - The New Explorers”
2011 - Edward Murrow Award for Best Journalism - “ESPN’s Outside The Lines Special: Human Trafficking”