{{Short description|American director and filmmaker}} {{about|the filmmaker|the government official|Bonnie R. Cohen}} thumb|Cohen in 2016 '''Bonni Cohen''' is an American documentary film producer<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Bonni Cohen — "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power"|url=https://womenandhollywood.com/cannes-2017-women-directors-meet-bonni-cohen-an-inconvenient-sequel-truth-to-power-60330e9b3e6/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=womenandhollywood.com|language=en-US}}</ref> and director.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=2017-07-27|title='Inconvenient Sequel' directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk bring hope to the climate crisis|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-inconvenient-sequel-bonni-cohen-jon-shenk-20170727-story.html|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> She is the co-founder of Actual Films<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|date=2021-04-15|title=Bonni Cohen|url=https://variety.com/exec/bonni-cohen/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> and has produced and directed an array of award-winning films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IDA Appoints Award-Winning Filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jannat Gargi to Board of Directors |url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/ida-appoints-award-winning-filmmakers-bonni-cohen-and-jannat-gargi-board-directors |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=International Documentary Association |language=en}}</ref> Most recently, she co-directed, along with husband Jon Shenk, the 2024 documentary ''In Waves and War'', which was released on Netflix in November, 2025.<ref name="IWAW">{{cite web |title=In Waves and War|url=https://www.inwavesandwarfilm.com/|website=inwavesandwar.com |access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> She also produced the Oscar-nominated film ''Lead Me Home'', which premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and is a Netflix Original.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lead Me Home |url=https://www.leadmehomefilm.com/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.leadmehomefilm.com |language=en-US}}</ref> She also recently co-directed ''Athlete A'', which won an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Documentary<ref>{{Cite web |title=News 2021 Nominees (Documentaries) – The Emmys |url=https://theemmys.tv/news/42nd-nominations/documentaries/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=theemmys.tv |language=en-US}}</ref> and received four nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards – List of Nominees and Winners – Critics Choice Awards |url=https://www.criticschoice.com/2020/11/16/5th-annual-critics-choice-documentary-awards-list-of-nominees-and-winners/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> She is the co-founder of Actual Films, the production company of the documentaries ''An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power'', ''Audrie & Daisy'', ''3.5 Minutes'', ''The Island President'', ''Lost Boys of Sudan'' and ''The Rape of Europa''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rape of Europa|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/09/12/rape-europa/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=EW.com|language=en}}</ref> Cohen is the co-founder of the Catapult Film Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Catapult Film Fund Celebrates a Decade of Doc Support|url=https://www.documentary.org/feature/catapult-film-fund-celebrates-decade-doc-support|access-date=2021-08-17|website=International Documentary Association|language=en}}</ref>
== Career == Cohen co-directed the 2024 documentary ''In Waves and War''.<ref name="IWAW"/> She also co-directed ''Athlete A''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carey|first=Matthew|date=2021-01-10|title='Athlete A' Directors Say USA Gymnastics Should Do More To End Culture Of Abuse – Contenders Documentary|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/athlete-a-directors-say-usa-gymnastics-should-do-more-to-end-culture-of-abuse-contenders-documentary-1234670570/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> and ''An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bentley|first=Jean|date=2017-11-08|title='An Inconvenient Sequel' Filmmakers on Modifying Their Film After Donald Trump's Climate Policy Changes|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/11/an-inconvenient-sequel-interview-bonni-cohen-jon-shenk-1201892985/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> In 2016, Cohen co-directed the film ''Audrie & Daisy'',<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Wakeman|first=Jessica|date=2016-09-23|title=Life After Sexual Assault: Inside Harrowing Doc 'Audrie & Daisy'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/life-after-sexual-assault-inside-harrowing-doc-audrie-daisy-101595/|access-date=2021-08-24|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chai|first=Barbara|date=2015-12-02|title=Sundance Film Festival Announces In-Competition Films for 2016 (See the Full List)|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-92421|access-date=2021-08-24|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> where it was acquired<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|date=2016-01-28|title=Sundance: Netflix Strikes Again, Picking Up 'Audrie & Daisy'|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/markets-festivals/audrie-daisy-netflix-sundance-1201690436/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> by Netflix.
Cohen is the producer of ''The Island President'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=THE ISLAND PRESIDENT|url=https://www.docnyc.net/film/the-island-president/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=DOC NYC|language=en-US}}</ref> a documentary about the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. In 2009, Cohen produced the film ''Wonders are Many'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Byrge|first=Duane|date=2007-01-25|title=Wonders Are Many|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonders-are-158113/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> directed by Jon Else, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.<ref>[http://www.sundance.org/pdf/press-releases/07_SFF_PROGRAMANNOUNCEMENT120106.pdf 2007 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817214118/http://www.sundance.org/pdf/press-releases/07_SFF_PROGRAMANNOUNCEMENT120106.pdf |date=2021-08-17 }} (press release)</ref> Cohen co-directed ''Inside Guantanamo'' with Else.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|date=2020-03-09|title=IDA Appoints Award-Winning Filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jannat Gargi to Board of Directors|url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/ida-appoints-award-winning-filmmakers-bonni-cohen-and-jannat-gargi-board-directors|access-date=2021-08-24|website=International Documentary Association|language=en}}</ref> Cohen also served as Executive Producer<ref name="auto2"/> of the documentary films ''3.5 Minutes'' and ''Art and Craft''.
== Filmography == === Directed features === * ''In Waves and War'' (2024) * ''Athlete A'' (2020) * ''Just Breathe'' (2019, documentary short) * ''An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power'' (2017) * ''Audrie & Daisy'' (2016) * ''National Geographic Explorer'' (2007-2009, series, 3 episodes) ** ''Inside Guantanamo'' (2009)<ref>{{Cite news|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|date=2009-04-03|title=Prison Misery, for Detainees and Guards|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/arts/television/04expl.html|access-date=2021-08-24|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ** ''Inside Bethlehem'' (2007) ** ''The Last Christians of Bethlehem'' (2007) * ''The Rape of Europa'' (2006)<ref name="auto1"/> * ''Wild on the Set'' (2000, series, 1 episode, 2000) ** ''Snakes'' (2000, second director) ** ''Primates'' (2000) * ''Kofi Annan: Eye of the Storm'' (1998) * ''Meet Me in Miami Beach'' (1994, documentary short)
=== Producing credits === * ''Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore'' (2025, producer) * ''Freedom to Dream'' (2020, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Jaiquan's Sketch'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Cooking for Life'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Sounds of Life'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Cooked: Survival by Zip Code'' (2019, consulting producer) * ''Be Like Water'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Drawn to the Mat'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Just Breathe'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Nature: No App Required'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''Splash'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer) * ''The Seer and the Unseen'' (2019, executive producer) * ''Life Overtakes Me'' (2019, documentary short, executive producer)<ref name="auto2"/> * ''When God Sleeps'' (2017, executive producer) * ''Melting Ice'' (2017, documentary short, co-producer) * ''Extremis'' (2016, documentary short, executive producer)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Extremis {{!}} 2016 Tribeca Festival|url=https://tribecafilm.com/festival/archive/extremis-2016|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Tribeca}}</ref> * ''Audrie & Daisy'' (2016, producer) * ''P.O.V.'' (2015, series, executive producer, 1 episode) ** ''Art and Craft'' * ''3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets'' (2015, executive producer)<ref name="auto2"/> * ''The Last Season'' (2014, consulting producer) * ''Art and Craft'' (2014, executive producer)<ref name="auto2"/> * ''American Jerusalem: Jews and the Making of San Francisco'' (2013, executive producer) * ''Independent Lens'' (2008–2013, series, producer, 2 episodes) ** ''Island President'' (2013) ** ''Wonders Are Many: The Making of "Doctor Atomic"'' (2008) * ''The Island President'' (2011, producer) * ''National Geographic Explorer'' (2007, series, producer, 1 episode) ** ''The Last Christians of Bethlehem'' * ''Undercover History'' (2007, series, producer, 1 episode) ** ''J. Edgar Hoover'' * ''Wonders Are Many'' (2007, producer) * ''The Rape of Europa'' (2006, executive producer, producer) * ''Open Outcry'' (2001, producer) * ''They Drew Fire'' (2000, producer) * ''Kofi Annan: Eye of the Storm'' (1998, producer) * ''The Human Sexes'' (1997, series, producer)
== Awards and nominations ==
* 1998 Emmy Nominee, Outstanding Non-Fiction Series, ''The Human Sexes'' (1997), shared with Sandra Gregory (executive producer), Michael Rosenberg (executive producer), Clive Bromhall (series producer), Clare Hargreaves, Beverley Parr, John Longley, Desmond Morris (host/writer)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bonni Cohen|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/bonni-cohen|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Television Academy|language=en}}</ref> * 2000 International Documentary Association Award Nominee, Strand Program, ''They Drew Fire'' (2000), shared with Nicole Newnham and Brian Lanker<ref>{{Cite web|date=2000-11-01|title=2000 IDA Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards Nominees|url=https://www.documentary.org/online-feature/2000-ida-distinguished-documentary-achievement-awards-nominees|access-date=2021-08-24|website=International Documentary Association|language=en}}</ref> * 2008 Writers Guild of America Award Nominee, Documentary Screenplay, ''The Rape of Europa'' (2006), shared with Richard Berge and Nicole Newnham<ref name="auto1"/> * 2011 Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Winner, ''The Island President'' (2011), shared with Richard Berge<ref name="auto1"/> * 2018 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Nominee, Best Documentary, ''An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power'' (2017), shared with Jon Shenk<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-09|title=The full list of nominations for the Baftas 2018|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/09/full-list-of-nominations-for-the-baftas-2018-film|access-date=2021-08-24|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> * 2020 Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominee, ''Athlete A'' (2020), shared with Jon Shenk<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Anne|date=2020-10-26|title='Crip Camp,' 'Gunda,' and 'Mr. Soul!' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/2020-critics-choice-documentary-awards-nominations-1234595148/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://actualfilms.net/ Actual Films] {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Bonni}} Category:American documentary film producers Category:American women documentary filmmakers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American documentary film directors Category:21st-century American women