Daniel Weidknecht

Biography

Daniel C. Weidknecht is a Director and Producer known for impactful storytelling with a focus on social justice. His first feature documentary, HEALING THE CHILDREN OF WAR, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the United Nations Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize at the Colorado Film Festival, and the Grand Jury Prize at the New York International Independent Film Festival. It was also an Official Selection at the Artivist Film Festival. His second feature, INDIGENOUS, ENDANGERED., won the Festival Prize at the Huntington Beach Film Festival, the Grand Festival Award at the Berkeley Video and Film Festival, and the Grand Jury Prize at the Colorado Film Festival. His latest short documentary, ROXBURY, was an Official Selection at both the Roxbury International Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Beyond documentaries, Daniel directs commercials for major brands like Cartier, Subaru, and Nike. He is also a professional writer having sold screenplays to companies such as Plan B and Pastel. Whether fiction or documentary, Daniel strives to give voice to nuance. “I am not interested in black and white or good versus evil. This isn't real and is just too simple.” His films explore how the othering of a people can lead to dehumanization, blame, and the spread of mis- and disinformation.

As an instructor, Daniel emphasizes experiential learning while developing tangible, marketable materials, worthy of showing prospective employers. And his students deliver - projects from his classes have screened at festivals such as Rhode Island International Film Festival, Salem Film Festival, Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, New Haven International Documentary Film Festival, Bridgeport Film Festival, Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, and Independent Film Festival Boston. Screenplays from his students have also been selected at the Nantucket Film Festival and Austin Revolution Film Festival.

Daniel has also taught Beginner and Advanced Production courses at Boston University and Curry College.

Education

M.B.A. Suffolk University
B.S. Suffolk University