About

James Mottern is an American filmmaker born in Providence, RI and raised in Virginia. He began his career in documentary films, writing and directing several series including an award-winning program depicting the brutal and dangerous world of international animal poaching and trafficking. After winning a Nicholl Fellowship from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Mottern went on to write projects with and for a variety of production houses including Mandate Pictures and Maven Pictures, later directing critically acclaimed narrative films. A writer, director, and producer Mottern founded his company Film People, LLC to produce and finance high-quality movies, documentaries, and television.

Consistently tonally compelled by American culture and stories, in 2022, Mottern returned to documentary film, with a focus on American issues. He has subsequently directed three indie feature documentaries, the most recent of which is to be released in 2025.