About

I’ve been making documentary films my whole life. What started as an obsession has somehow turned into a career, something I am very grateful for. Many of my documentaries have been distributed on PBS. I’ve won some awards, including being nominated for an Emmy in Chicago and earning Forbes 30 under 30 for my work directing DreamxAmerica.

I am passionate about independent documentaries produced in the south. There is magic and untapped stories in the south that others benefits from seeing. I’m constantly fascinated by how history lives out in the present day here. To a southern storyteller, what Faulkner says rings true time and time again, “the past is never dead. It’s not even past.” And in the southern landscape, there is history lurking around every corner. I love trying to find this and show this to other people.

I also am passionate about building institutions that support artists and entrepreneurs. I’ve built a couple organizations that support artists and entrepreneurs, one is a non-profit impact investing initiative that offers zero-interest loans to immigrant entrepreneurs, and the other is a startup marketing agency that connects southern documentary filmmakers with top brands to produce fully remote videos.  I also serve on the board of the American Dance Festival, an organization based in Durham, NC that supports modern dance choreographers and dancers around the world.

Lastly, and not without a certain grandiose naivety, I believe that the answer to the insane media environment we find ourselves in is slowing down and creating more thoughtful human-centric documentaries. Therefore, the work my team I do is slow. It is designed to try to call attention to small things, things often overlooked. And when possible, we try to do in person events. We organize regular screenings and discussions in Durham to foster community around the work we are doing.

 This site is designed to give you a way to support and engage with the work my team does. I would love it if you would consider subscribing (all proceeds go towards productions of the films).  

Stay in touch,
David Delaney Mayer