Katja Esson is a renowned Academy Award-nominated filmmaker based in Miami, Florida, with a distinctive style of creating intimate, character-driven documentaries that delve into complex social issues such as race, class, and gender.
Her notable works include "FERRY TALES," a 2004 HBO documentary that transformed the unconventional setting of the Staten Island Ferry Powder Room into a heartwarming celebration of sisterhood.
In 2007, Katja's documentary "HOLE IN THE SKY - THE SCARS OF 9/11" received the prestigious Gold-Award at the World-Media-Festival, solidifying her reputation as a skilled and sensitive filmmaker.
Her 2011 film "SKYDANCER" tells the poignant story of two Mohawk ironworkers struggling between their cultural heritage and their lives in New York City, earning nominations for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography at the Shanghai Film Festival and premiering on PBS and ARTE in 2011.
Katja's 2012 documentary "POETRY OF RESILIENCE" was nominated for the esteemed Cinema for Peace Award, further demonstrating her commitment to exploring the human experience through her work.
In 2014, her five-part documentary series "BACKROADS USA" premiered on ARTE and PBS, followed by her 2016 documentary series "AMERICAN RIVERS," which also premiered on ARTE and PBS in 2018.
As a Simons-Public Humanities Fellow at Kansas University, Katja's films have been showcased at esteemed institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian.
Throughout her career, Katja's work has been supported by notable organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Knight Foundation, ITVS, IDA Enterprise, NYSCA, the Redford Center, Sundance, and the Ford Foundation.
