Justin O. Cooper is an NAACP Image Award–nominated filmmaker and the founder of JOCMedia & Entertainment, a Los Angeles–based production company and creative consultancy operating across film, television, and strategic media. A director, producer, writer, and editor, Cooper brings a foundation in journalism and a disciplined, development-through-distribution approach to human-centered storytelling with global reach.
He is the writer, director, and producer of CIRILO, A Legacy Untold, an Oscar-qualified documentary short that earned a nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary at the 57th NAACP Image Awards. The film won Best Documentary Short at the San Antonio Black International Film Festival and was an official selection of the Pan African Film Festival, the Seattle Latino Film Festival, the Detroit Black Film Festival, the Diversity in Cannes Short Film & Webseries Showcase, the Freedom Festival International, and the Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival, among others. CIRILO completed an official Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in February 2025 and has since screened for international cultural institutions and civic organizations, including a private presentation in the Republic of Panama. The film is narrated and executive produced by two-time Grammy Award winner Ann Nesby.
Beyond his directing work, Cooper advises international film commissions and production partners on global production strategy. He serves as a Los Angeles–based liaison for the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, supporting outreach and facilitation for major studio productions. His experience includes engagement with leading studios across development, production coordination, and post-production strategy, positioning territories for high-level film and television work.
In music, Cooper is an ASCAP Plus Award recipient for songwriting, including collaborations with Grammy-winning artists such as Tom Scott and Ann Nesby. His career spans journalism, music, branded content, and independent film production, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to authorship and audience engagement.
Cooper graduated with honors from Benedict College with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and holds UCLA Extension certifications in Film and Television Development and Film Editing. He is a member of Film Independent and the International Documentary Association, and is listed on the IATSE Motion Picture Editors Guild Local 700 Industry Experience Roster as an Assistant Editor. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion, Hollywood Post 43.
