Ross McElwee

Ross McElwee

Known for

Directing

Born

July 21, 1947 (age 79)

Birthplace

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Biography

Ross McElwee is an American documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, and Harvard professor, known for his autobiographical films about his family and personal life, usually interwoven with an episodic journey of some sort. McElwee is a 1971 graduate of Brown University, and received his MS from MIT in 1977. He received the Career Award at the 2007 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

Best known work

Sherman's March
Sherman's March
1986
Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass
2009
Bright Leaves
Bright Leaves
2004
POV
POV
1988
Time Indefinite
Time Indefinite
1993
Photographic Memory
Photographic Memory
2011
Six O'Clock News
Six O'Clock News
1997
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
1997
Backyard
Backyard
1984
N!ai, The Story of a !Kung Woman
N!ai, The Story of a !Kung Woman
1981

Filmography

  1. 2026

    Remake

    as Self, Director, Editor, Producer, Director of Photography

  2. 2011

    Photographic Memory

    as Himself, Director, Director of Photography, Executive Producer, Writer

  3. 2009

  4. 2008

    In Paraguay

    Director of Photography, Director

  5. 2004

    Bright Leaves

    as Himself - Narrator (voice), Director, Director of Photography, Editor, Producer, Writer

  6. 2000

    No Vladimir

    Supervising Producer

  7. 1997

  8. 1997

    Six O'Clock News

    as Himself, Director, Writer, Editor, Director of Photography

  9. 1993

    Time Indefinite

    as Himself, Director, Writer, Director of Photography

  10. 1991

    Something to Do with the Wall

    as Narrator, Director, Director of Photography

  11. 1988

    POVTV

    as Self (1 episode), Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Cinematography

  12. 1986

    Sherman's March

    as Self, Director, Writer, Cinematography, Director of Photography, Producer, Sound

  13. 1984

    Backyard

    as Himself, Director, Director of Photography

  14. 1981

    N!ai, The Story of a !Kung Woman

    Director of Photography

  15. 1981

    Resident Exile

    Producer, Editor, Director, Director of Photography

  16. 1979

    Space Coast

    Director, Director of Photography

  17. 1977

    Charleen or How Long Has This Been Going On?

    as Himself, Director, Director of Photography

  18. 1976

    68 Albany Street

    Director, Director of Photography

  19. 1974

    20,000 Missing Persons

    Director of Photography, Director

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms