Nathan Truesdell is an Academy Award nominated independent filmmaker.[1][2] He is best known for his work on the documentary films Balloonfest,[3] Ascension, and The Water Slide.[4][5][6]

Nathan Truesdell
Born
Occupation(s)Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Producer
Years active2005–present

Life and career

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Truesdell comes from Clark, Missouri where he spent the first 18 years of his life. He then realized the practicality of college and, nevertheless, attended the University of Missouri. He obtained his degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics.

His second documentary short film Balloonfest, premiered at American Film Institute and San Francisco International Film Festival.[7][8] His documentary short film The Water Slide, premiered at American Film Institute and San Francisco International Film Festival.[9][10]

In 2021, Truesdell produced and photographed Ascension, which went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[11]

Personal life

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Truesdell is married to filmmaker Jessica Kingdon.[12]

Filmography

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As Director

  • 2020 - It's Coming!
  • 2019 - Lightning vs. Thunder
  • 2019 - The Art of Making Money
  • 2018 - The Water Slide
  • 2017 - Balloonfest
  • 2014 - Time to Talk About Jobs
  • 2011 - Cinema Eye Honors

As Cinematographer

  • 2021 - Ascension
  • 2020 - It's Coming!
  • 2019 - Landing on Airwaves
  • 2019 - The Art of Making Money
  • 2017 - Chasing AllieCat
  • 2017 - The Experimental City
  • 2016 - Primaries
  • 2016 - Speaking Is Difficult
  • 2015 - Deprogrammed
  • 2015 - Killing Them Safely
  • 2014 - PFlat Black
  • 2014 - Midterms
  • 2013 - Caucus
  • 2013 - We Always Lie to Strangers
  • 2013 - Threshold
  • 2013 - Dear Valued Guests
  • 2012 - X-Ray Man
  • 2012 - The Body of Richard Baker
  • 2011 - Light the Water
  • 2011 - Red Cloud
  • 2011 - Lost & Found
  • 2011 - Cinema Eye Honors
  • 2010 - Big Birding Day
  • 2009 - Real Super Heroes: Real Vigilantes
  • 2009 - Convention
  • 2007 - Steppin' Frat
  • 2006 - Wrastlin
  • 2006 - Midwest Muslim
  • 2006 - Bio-Town

As Editor

  • 2020 - It's Coming!
  • 2019 - Lightning vs. Thunder
  • 2019 - The Art of Making Money
  • 2018 - The Water Slide
  • 2017 - Balloonfest
  • 2015 - Killing Them Safely
  • 2014 - Time to Talk About Jobs
  • 2012 - X-Ray Man
  • 2011 - Cinema Eye Honors
  • 2010 - Big Birding Day
  • 2009 - Convention
  • 2007 - Steppin' Frat
  • 2006 - Wrastlin
  • 2006 - Midwest Muslim
  • 2006 - Bio-Town

As Producer

  • 2021 - Ascension
  • 2020 - It's Coming!
  • 2019 - Lightning vs. Thunder
  • 2019 - 8:08 - How We Respond
  • 2019 - The Art of Making Money
  • 2018 - How We Respond
  • 2018 - The Gospel of Eureka
  • 2017 - Balloonfest
  • 2016 - Primaries
  • 2016 - Peace in the Valley
  • 2013 - Caucus
  • 2013 - We Always Lie to Strangers
  • 2013 - Dear Valued Guests
  • 2012 - The Body of Richard Baker
  • 2011 - Cinema Eye Honors
  • 2009 - Convention[13]
  • 2005 - Song of the Dead
  • 2024 - Balloon Boy[14][15]

Awards and nominations

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Year Result Award Category Work Ref.
2022 Nominated Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature Film Ascension [16]
Won Cinema Eye Honors Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography [17]
Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
Nominated Independent Spirit Awards Best Documentary [18]
Nominated International Documentary Association Best Cinematography [19]
Nominated Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures [20]
2021 Nominated Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Best Cinematography [21]
Nominated Gotham Awards Best Documentary [22]
2019 Won Tallgrass Film Festival Outstanding Documentary Short 8:08 - How We Respond
2018 Nominated Chicago International Film Festival Best Documentary Short The Water Slide
2017 Nominated San Francisco International Film Festival Best Documentary Short Balloonfest

References

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  1. ^ "Man behind award-winning Cleveland 'Balloonfest' documentary just really wants you to like his film". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  2. ^ "Interview: AJ Schnack and Nathan Truesdell (Caucus and We Always Lie To Strangers)". ioncinema.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  3. ^ Balloonfest (2017)|MUBI
  4. ^ "Balloonfest". fullframefest.org. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  5. ^ "SHORTS COMPETITION". prekindle.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  6. ^ The Water Slide (2018)|MUBI
  7. ^ "BALLOONFEST". afifest.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  8. ^ "MORE REVIEWS FROM THE 60TH SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL". beyondchron.org. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  9. ^ "THE WATER SLIDE". afifest.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  10. ^ "54th Chicago International Film Festival * Oct 10-21, 2018". chicagofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  11. ^ "Ascension Oscar-Nominated Doc * March 8, 2022". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  12. ^ "'Ascension' Documents China's Haves, Have-Nots, And Everyone In Between – Contenders Film: The Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  13. ^ "Convention -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  14. ^ Coverage of the ‘balloon boy’ hoax forms a withering indictment of for-profit news|Aeon
  15. ^ What the ‘balloon boy’ hoax revealed about the media | Balloon Boy - Aeon Video on official YouTube channel
  16. ^ "THE 94TH ACADEMY AWARDS - 2022". oscars.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  17. ^ "Flee, Ascension Top 2022 Cinema Eye Honors". cinemaeyehonors.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  18. ^ "2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced". filmindependent.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  19. ^ "Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". documentary.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  20. ^ "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza', 'Don't Look Up', 'Dune', 'King Richard' & 'CODA' Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  21. ^ "Nominations unveiled for the Sixth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards". criticschoice.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  22. ^ "'Passing,' 'The Lost Daughter' Lead 2021 Gotham Awards Nominations (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
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