Jillian Schlesinger

Teaches at DCTV

Jillian Schlesinger (she/they) is an independent filmmaker, producer, writer, and editor whose creative work accompanies visionary artists on collaborative filmmaking adventures. She produced and directed Maidentrip (SXSW 2013 Audience Award, Indiewire’s Best Docs of 2014, Gotham & Cinema Eye nominee) in collaboration with Laura Dekker on Laura's journey to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone. Jillian produced, co-directed, and edited Hummingbirds (Berlinale 2023 Generation Grand Prix, True/False & New/Next Opening Night Film) working with director-stars Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía "Beba" Contreras and a team of young filmmakers to craft a collaborative self-portrait of a coming-of-age summer in their hometown on the Texas border. Her work has been supported by Sundance, Field of Vision, Ford Foundation | JustFilms, SFFILM, IDA, Doc Society, and New York Foundation for the Arts. Jillian has been a Sundance/WIF Producing Fellow, an NBCU Original Voices Fellow, a Doc Society Co-Creation Fellow, and a Flaherty Seminar Fellow. Jillian has led workshops on collaborative filmmaking practices and other topics for organizations including UnionDocs, Austin Film Society, and DCTV. She has collaborated with Arts2Work on the development of apprenticeship programs for emerging editors and producers from underrepresented backgrounds. Jillian consults, writes grants, and cuts trailers for films at all stages from development to distribution. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner Miguel and their youngest collaborators Mateo and Arlo.