Bmakin Film. I dream in color with sounds and music, so making movies is really a dream come true.
Ben Makinen is an award-winning filmmaker, music producer, composer, and percussionist. As the founder of Bmakin Film Ltd. and the International Modern Film Alliance (IMFA), he is also a voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS) in the Producers and Engineers Wing.
Makinen’s newest documentary Echoes of Tradition, now being submitted to film festivals via Film Freeway, has already secured a commitment for national distribution to public television stations (PBS) in the United States for 2025.
His debut feature-length documentary, JazzTown, hailed as “A Lovely film!” by S. Griesbach of Sony Pictures, is available on AppleTV and Amazon Prime, as well as airing on Rocky Mountain PBS. The film has garnered 14 festival awards, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Soundtrack, making it the first feature-length documentary produced and distributed entirely by one individual.
With over 40 years of professional experience in film, television, theater, and music production, Ben has established a collaborative reputation within an international community of multimedia clients. JazzTown has been broadcast numerous times on Rocky Mountain PBS.
Ben's short film, Who Killed Jazz, explores the socio-economic challenges facing jazz musicians and has received critical acclaim and multiple awards at international film festivals. The Sleepless Critic praised it as “a comprehensive and fascinating analysis of jazz’s exciting history through the eyes of musicians who have lived and are living through it.”
Beginning his professional journey as a drummer in 1980, Ben branched into music production and composition in 1990. Since founding Bmakin Film in 2001, he has created a diverse array of short films, including music videos, experimental works, narratives, investigative journalism, and documentaries. He has also taught and conducted jazz workshops and served as a guest speaker in film studies classes.
His short film Anthropocene won two Silver Awards at the 2022 Megaflix Film Festival for Best Experimental Film and Best Nature Film. Additionally, his jazz music video Alone At Sunset received the Best Sound Design award at the 2019 Nederland International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the 2021 Anatolia International Film Festival. His indie music video Hypomania was also an Official Selection at the 2021 Anatolia International Film Festival and a Finalist at the 2021 4th Dimension International Film Festival.
In 2020, during the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben founded the International Modern Film Alliance (IMFA) to support filmmakers lacking access to resources and training. The IMFA's mission is to teach and promote the art of storytelling through the marriage of music and film.
Currently, Ben leads IMFA workshops for children and young adults in Bali, Indonesia, sharing his passion for jazz music while collaborating with local film production companies. He is actively seeking to raise funds and awareness to foster creative collaborations between the U.S. and SE Asia.
Learn more at http://www.benmakinen.com
  • Writer (9 Credits)
    Echoes of Tradition2024
    Documentary, Feature
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    All Blues - Robert Johnson2019
    Documentary, Music Video, Short
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Alone At Sunset2018
    Music Video
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Director (9 Credits)
    Echoes of Tradition2024
    Documentary, Feature
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    All Blues - Robert Johnson2019
    Documentary, Music Video, Short
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Alone At Sunset2018
    Music Video
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Producer (8 Credits)
    Echoes of Tradition2024
    Documentary, Feature
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    All Blues - Robert Johnson2019
    Documentary, Music Video, Short
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Cinematographer (7 Credits)
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    All Blues - Robert Johnson2019
    Documentary, Music Video, Short
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Alone At Sunset2018
    Music Video
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Editor (7 Credits)
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    All Blues - Robert Johnson2019
    Documentary, Music Video, Short
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Alone At Sunset2018
    Music Video
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Executive Producer (6 Credits)
    Echoes of Tradition2024
    Documentary, Feature
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz2021
    Documentary
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
  • Music Producer (4 Credits)
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    Hypomania2020
    Music Video
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Composer (3 Credits)
    JazzTown2021
    Documentary
    The Mission2019
    Experimental, Short
    Anthropocene2018
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Photographer (1 Credit)
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
  • Graphic Artist (1 Credit)
    Who Killed Jazz, Trailer2021
    Documentary
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
Tulum World Environment Film Festival
Tulum
2022
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
New York City Independent Film Festival
NYC
2022
SEMI FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
The Black Panther International Film Festival
2022
QUARTER FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
National Short Film Festival
Washington D.C.
2022
FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
Papa Interntational Historical Film Festival
Papa
2022
FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
The Oaks International FIlm Festival
2022
WINNER FIRST PLACE
Who Killed Jazz
New York City io Film Festival
Brooklyn
2022
BEST NATURE FILM - Silver Award
Anthropocene
MegaFlix Film Awards
2022
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM - Silver Award
Anthropocene
MegaFlix Film Awards
2022
HONORABLE MENTION BEST MOVIE POSTER
Who Killed Jazz, Trailer
Cinematic European Film Festival
Bain
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
Crown Wood Film Festival
Kulkata
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
London Movie Awards
London
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
Barcelona International Film Festival
Barcelona
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Who Killed Jazz
New York Neorealism Film Festival
NEW YORK CITY
2021
HONORABLE MENTION
Who Killed Jazz
Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival
Tokyo
2021
HONORABLE MENTION - BEST MOVIE POSTER
Who Killed Jazz
Cinematic European Film Festival
Bain
2021
HONORABLE MENTION - BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Who Killed Jazz
Cinematic European Film Festival
Bain
2021
HONORABLE MENTION
Who Killed Jazz
New York Movie Awards
New York City
2021
NOMINEE
Who Killed Jazz
International Motion Picture Awards
Toronto
2021
NOMINEE
Who Killed Jazz
Cannes Shorts
Cannes
2021
SEMI-FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
Pheonix Shorts
Phoenix
2021
FINALIST
Who Killed Jazz
VYRE Film Festival
Hollywood
2021
BEST EMERGING FILM MAKER
Who Killed Jazz
International Motion Picture Awards
Ontario
2021
BEST EDITING SHORT FILM
Who Killed Jazz
Onyko Films Awards
2021
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Who Killed Jazz
Bridge Fest
2021
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Who Killed Jazz
Naples Movie Awards
Naples
2021
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM Audience Choice Award
Who Killed Jazz
World Film Carnival - Singapore
Singapore
2021
BEST DIRECTOR Critics’ Choice Award
Who Killed Jazz
World Film Carnival - Singapore
Singapore
2021
GOLD AWARD BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Who Killed Jazz
Hollywood Gold Awards
Hollywood
2021
Official Selection
Hypomania
Iconic Images Film Festival
2021
Finalist
Hypomania
Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival
Ubud
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
Anatolia International Film Festival
Istanbul
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
Big Apple Film Festival
New York City, New York
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
Logcinema Music Film Festival
Barcelona
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
Thinking Hat Fiction Challenge
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
CKF International Film Festival
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
JazzTown
International Symbolic Film Festival
Saint Petersburg
2021
NOMINEE
JazzTown
Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival
Kurdistan
2021
FINALIST
JazzTown
World Independent Short Film Awards - Baliwood Bali
Badung, Bali
2021
FINALIST
JazzTown
Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival
Ubud
2021
FINALIST
JazzTown
Europa Film Festival
Barcelona
2021
AWARD OF RECOGNITION: Documentary Feature
JazzTown
IndieFEST Film Awards
La Jolla, California
2021
Winner: Critics' Choice Award: BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
JazzTown
World Film Carnival
Singapore
2021
BEST SOUNDTRACK
JazzTown
New Orleans Second Line Film Festival
New Orleans
2021
Winner - BEST DIRECTOR
JazzTown
San Diego Movie Awards
San Diego
2021
Winner - BEST PICTURE
JazzTown
Rome Movie Awards
Rome
2021
Official Selection
Alone At Sunset
Anatolia International Film Festival
Istanbul
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Anthropocene
Sweet Democracy Film Awards
Rome
2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Anthropocene
Crown Wood FIlm Festival
Kolkata
2021
FINALIST
Anthropocene
Cosmo Genetics Film Festival Saint Petersburg 2021
Saint Petersburg
2021
Semi-Finalist (judging in progress)
The Mission
World Independent Film Awards - Baliwood Bali
Badung, Bali
2021
Finalist
The Mission
Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival
Ubud
2021
Official Selection
All Blues - Robert Johnson
Iconic Images Film Festival
2021
Official Selection
The Mission
2020 EFPalooza Film Festival
Denver, Colorado
2020
Best Sound Design/Official Selection
Alone At Sunset
Nederland International Film Festival
Nederland
2019
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Anthropocene
Nederland International Film Festival
Nederland
2019
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Anthropocene
EFPALOOZA Film Festival 2019
Denver, Colorado
2019
Best Director
Who Killed Jazz
Bollywood International Film Festival
BEST EDITING
Who Killed Jazz
World Film Carnival - Singapore
BEST EDITING
Who Killed Jazz
World Film Carnival - Singapore
Singapore
High School
Bishop Kelly High School
19811982
High School
Overland High School
19821985
Birth Date
March 14, 1967
Birth City
Waterville
Current City
Ungassan, Bali, Indonesia
Hometown
Denver, Colorado
Gender
Male
Zodiac Sign
Pisces
Married To
A beautiful woman from Bali named Lohde:-)
Children
4
Worked as an extra in Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Outsiders.
As a 15 year old in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I stayed up all night smoking hash with Dennis Hopper and stunt man Buddy Joe Hooker and then, 2 hours later, took a math final in high school.
I have a signed autograph from James Doohan, "Scotty" from Star Trek (TOS) after having met him at a StarTrek convention in Ellensburg, Washington circa 1976.
I appeared, along with pianist John Kite and bassist Ian Hutchinson, as the jazz drummer in the first commercial ever shot and produced for Denver’s historic Brown Palace Hotel that was built in 1892. It's on Youtube.
I have never been to Africa, but a friend of mine took my wisdom teeth to Africa (having first been extracted by a dentist) and threw them into the Nile River so that part of me will always be in Africa whether I am ever able to visit or not.
“Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.”
--- Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
"So that happened."
--- Alec Bladwin's character Bob, stepping out of a car crash in David Mamet's film State and Maine
Bmakin Film. I dream in color with sounds and music, so making movies is really a dream come true.
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