Jake Hochendoner

Jake Hochendoner is a producer, director, cinematographer, documentarian and educator currently residing in Dallas, Texas.

His films and videos have received several awards including a 2018 New England Emmy Award for producing/directing Dining Behind Bars. Jake works as a freelance director of photography and video producer for clients such as: Google, PBS NewsHour, National Geographic, Barnes and Noble and various non-profits. 

Jake’s work is driven by a deep passion for social and environmental justice, equity, inclusion and a more fair, healthy society. He volunteers as an educator in prisons teaching media production to build pathways to employment for individuals transitioning out of prison. Jake is currently working on his first feature documentary film FIREBOYS, an immersive journey through California’s only conservation “fire” camp for juveniles in prison, where young men are trained to fight seasonal blazes along side CalFire professionals to save land, homes and lives.

In 2015, Jake received a StoryLens Fellowship from Oberlin College. As a fellow, Jake worked as a director, editor, DOP and co-producer on five original short documentary films about social issues in Northeast Ohio. The first film, 100 Second Chances premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival, and screened at The ShortList Festival in Los Angeles and Impugning Impunity: ALBA Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. Another StoryLens film, ALL IT TAKES, co-directed and co-produced by Jake, was an Official Selection in the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, a Jury Award Winner at the Black Maria Film Festival and a Bronze Award winner in the Spotlight Film Festival. 

Jake received a 2016 Creative Workforce Fellowship from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. During this fellowship, he produced films addressing mass incarceration including a video installation titled DISPARATE IMPACT. Jake holds a B.A. in Cinema Studies and English from Oberlin College.