Johnny Symons is an accomplished documentary filmmaker, recognized with an Emmy nomination, who has dedicated his career to exploring pivotal issues within the LGBTQ+ community and social justice. His journey in filmmaking began in the 1990s, when he created independent films such as Out in Africa and Beauty Before Age, which meticulously examined the lives of queer individuals across cultural and generational spectrums.
In the year 2000, Symons co-produced Long Night's Journey Into Day, a film that garnered an Academy Award nomination and claimed the prestigious Sundance Grand Jury Prize. His directorial efforts have yielded notable works, including Daddy & Papa, which premiered at Sundance and was broadcast internationally, Ask Not, which aired nationally on PBS, and Out Run, which premiered at Full Frame. Additionally, his latest film, Assembly, made its debut at SXSW in 2025.
Symons has also honed his skills as a creative executive producer, lending his expertise to the Netflix documentary Pray Away (2020) and the Outfest award-winning Your Mother's Comfort (2020). Furthermore, he has served as a Sundance Fellow and has held the esteemed position of Professor and MFA Program Coordinator in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University.
