Nathan Truesdell
Nathan Truesdell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Clark, Missouri, U.S |
| Occupations | Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Producer |
| Years active | 2005–present |
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]
Life and career
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
Truesdell is married to filmmaker Jessica Kingdon.[12]
Filmography
As Director
- 2026 - A Derailment
- 2025 - Mystery Seeds
- 2022 - When the LAPD Blows Up Your Neighborhood
- 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
- 2026 - Art & Science Collide
- 2025 - Flood
- 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
- 2026 - A Derailment
- 2025 - Mystery Seeds
- 2022 - When the LAPD Blows Up Your Neighborhood
- 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
- 2025 - Mystery Seeds
- 2023 - Balloon Boy
- 2022 - When the LAPD Blows Up Your Neighborhood
- 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
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Won | Big Sky Documentary Film Festival | Best Short Documentary | A Derailment | |
| Won | Independent Film Festival Boston | Best Documentary Short | [16] | ||
| 2025 | Won | Tallgrass Film Festival | Outstanding Editing | Mystery Seeds | [17] |
| 2023 | Nominated | Slamdance Film Festival | Best Documentary Short | When the LAPD Blows Up Your Neighborhood | [18] |
| Nominated | Florida Film Festival | Best Documentary Short | [19] | ||
| Won | San Diego Underground Film Festival | Jury Award | |||
| 2022 | Won | Hamptons International Film Festival | Golden Starfish Award | ||
| Nominated | Academy Awards | Best Documentary Feature Film | Ascension | [20] | |
| Won | Cinema Eye Honors | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | [21] | ||
| Nominated | Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking | ||||
| Nominated | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Documentary | [22] | ||
| Nominated | International Documentary Association | Best Cinematography | [23] | ||
| Nominated | Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures | [24] | ||
| 2021 | Nominated | Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | Best Cinematography | [25] | |
| Nominated | Gotham Awards | Best Documentary | [26] | ||
| 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
- ↑ "Man behind award-winning Cleveland 'Balloonfest' documentary just really wants you to like his film". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "Interview: AJ Schnack and Nathan Truesdell (Caucus and We Always Lie To Strangers)". ioncinema.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ Balloonfest (2017)|MUBI
- ↑ "Balloonfest". fullframefest.org. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "SHORTS COMPETITION". prekindle.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ The Water Slide (2018)|MUBI
- ↑ "BALLOONFEST". afifest.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "MORE REVIEWS FROM THE 60TH SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL". beyondchron.org. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "THE WATER SLIDE". afifest.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "54th Chicago International Film Festival * Oct 10-21, 2018". chicagofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ "Ascension Oscar-Nominated Doc * March 8, 2022". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ↑ "'Ascension' Documents China's Haves, Have-Nots, And Everyone In Between – Contenders Film: The Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ↑ "Convention -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ↑ Coverage of the ‘balloon boy’ hoax forms a withering indictment of for-profit news|Aeon
- ↑ What the ‘balloon boy’ hoax revealed about the media | Balloon Boy - Aeon Video on official YouTube channel
- ↑ "IFFBoston 2026 Award Winners". iffboston.org. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
- ↑ "The 23rd Annual Tallgrass Film Festival Presented by the Emily Bonavia Charitable Trust Announces New Awards and 2025 Winners". tallgrassfilm.org. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
- ↑ "Announcing the Short Film Lineup for Slamdance 2023". slamdance.com. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
- ↑ "POV Shorts Completes Season 6 With Three New Acquisitions Beginning". amdoc.org. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
- ↑ "THE 94TH ACADEMY AWARDS - 2022". oscars.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "Flee, Ascension Top 2022 Cinema Eye Honors". cinemaeyehonors.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced". filmindependent.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". documentary.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza', 'Don't Look Up', 'Dune', 'King Richard' & 'CODA' Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "Nominations unveiled for the Sixth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards". criticschoice.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ↑ "'Passing,' 'The Lost Daughter' Lead 2021 Gotham Awards Nominations (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-05-03.