Ben Makinen - Award-winning filmmaker, music producer, composer and percussionist. Founder of Bmakin Film ltd and the International Modern Film Alliance (IMFA). Makinen is also a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys) Producers and Engineers Wing.
His first feature length documentary film, JazzTown, is on the 2021/22 film festival circuit and has won 14 awards as of July, 2021 including Best Director and Best Picture. This film is the first feature length of its kind to made entirely by one person.
With over 40 years professional experience in film, television, theatre and music production Makinen enjoys a collaborative reputation throughout an international community of multi-media clientele.
Ben began working professionally as a drummer in 1980. He has worked as a music producer and composer since 1990. Makinen began making short films with his company Bmakin Film (music video, experimental, narrative, investigative journalism and documentary) since its formation in 2001. Ben has also taught and conducted jazz workshops and has been a guest speaker in film studies classes.
Ben's short - Anthropocene - is an Official Selection at the EFPalooza 2019 Film Festival. His music video Alone At Sunset won Best Sound Design in the 2019 Nederland International Film Festival and is a 2021 Official Selection of the Anotolia International Film Festival. His music video Hypomania is also an Official Selection at the 2021 Anatolia International Film Festival and is a Finalist in the 2021 4th Dimension International Film Festival.
In June of 2019 he was hired as the band videographer for Denver-based gamelan Tunas Mekar's 2-week Indonesian tour across the island of Bali . There he met his current wife on set: he asked her to marry him one week after meeting her. They have just celebrated the 1st birthday of their son Matteo.
Ben founded the International Modern Film Alliance (IMFA) in 2020 as a way to develop and nurture filmmakers who lack access to resources and instruction. The IMFA's mission statement is, "to teach and promote the art of storytelling through the marriage of music and film."
Ben Makinen leads IMFA workshops for children and young adults in Bali, Indonesia while collaborating with local film production companies and is looking to raise funds and awareness to continue building creative collaborations between the US and Indonesia.
More at benmakinen.com