Dean Hamer is a renowned Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, New York Times Book of the Year author, and NIH scientist emeritus, celebrated for his extraordinary ability to effectively communicate complex and controversial ideas to a diverse range of publics. Alongside his partner Joe Wilson, he co-founded Qwaves, a production company dedicated to creating insightful and provocative documentaries that shed light on often overlooked social issues. The films produced by Qwaves have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim, screening and winning awards at prominent film festivals worldwide, including Tribeca, Berlin, and Toronto, and airing on PBS, Netflix, and international broadcasts. Furthermore, Qwaves has received support from esteemed organizations such as Sundance, the Ford Foundation, ITVS, and Pacific Islanders in Communications, and their films have been utilized as outreach and educational tools by various community and educational organizations.
Hamer's first feature film, Out in the Silence, premiered at Lincoln Center and served as a pioneering model for the use of film as a tool for social activism. In 2011, he and Wilson relocated to the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, to focus on a series of films that would highlight the unique perspectives and experiences of Pacific Islanders. Their feature films, Kumu Hina and Leitis in Waiting, opened the eyes of the world to the valuable lessons that can be learned from Polynesia's innovative approach to gender and inclusion. Their animated short film, Kapaemahu, which is based on a traditional story of four remarkable dual male and female-spirited Tahitians who brought the healing arts to Hawaii, further expanded the reach of this effort through its inclusion in an Oscar-contending animated short film, PBS documentary, Penguin children's book, and immersive exhibition at the Bishop Museum.
In addition to his impressive body of work in film, Hamer is also the author of several best-selling nonfiction books, including The Science of Desire and The God Gene. He has also served as a consultant for the BBC and Discovery channels, and is a highly sought-after lecturer and guest on TV documentaries and news shows, including Nightline and Oprah.
