Ross McElwee
Directing
Biography
Ross McElwee is an American documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, and Harvard professor, known for his autobiographical films about his family and personal life, usually interwoven with an episodic journey of some sort. McElwee is a 1971 graduate of Brown University, and received his MS from MIT in 1977. He received the Career Award at the 2007 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Ross McElwee
Sweetgrass
2009
Backyard
1984
Filmography
Acting (10)
2026
Remakeas Self
2011
Photographic Memoryas Himself
5.8
2004
Bright Leavesas Himself - Narrator (voice)
7.0
1997
Who Is Henry Jaglom?as Self
6.8
1997
Six O'Clock Newsas Himself
6.5
1993
Time Indefiniteas Himself
7.0
1991
Something to Do with the Wallas Narrator
7.5
1986
Sherman's Marchas Self
6.3
1984
Backyardas Himself
6.2
1977
7.5
Production & Directing (47)
2026
RemakeDirector
2026
RemakeEditor
2026
RemakeProducer
2026
RemakeDirector of Photography
2011
Photographic MemoryDirector
5.8
2011
Photographic MemoryDirector of Photography
5.8
2011
Photographic MemoryExecutive Producer
5.8
2011
Photographic MemoryWriter
5.8
2009
SweetgrassThanks
6.7
2008
In ParaguayDirector of Photography
2008
In ParaguayDirector
2004
Bright LeavesDirector
7.0
2004
Bright LeavesDirector of Photography
7.0
2004
Bright LeavesEditor
7.0
2004
Bright LeavesProducer
7.0
2004
Bright LeavesWriter
7.0
2000
No VladimirSupervising Producer
8.0
1997
Six O'Clock NewsDirector
6.5
1997
Six O'Clock NewsWriter
6.5
1997
Six O'Clock NewsEditor
6.5
1997
Six O'Clock NewsDirector of Photography
6.5
1993
Time IndefiniteDirector
7.0
1993
Time IndefiniteWriter
7.0
1993
Time IndefiniteDirector of Photography
7.0
1991
Something to Do with the WallDirector
7.5
1991
Something to Do with the WallDirector of Photography
7.5
1986
Sherman's MarchDirector
6.3
1986
Sherman's MarchWriter
6.3
1986
Sherman's MarchCinematography
6.3
1986
Sherman's MarchDirector of Photography
6.3
1986
Sherman's MarchProducer
6.3
1986
Sherman's MarchSound
6.3
1984
BackyardDirector
6.2
1984
BackyardDirector of Photography
6.2
1981
N!ai, The Story of a !Kung WomanDirector of Photography
6.8
1981
Resident ExileProducer
8.0
1981
Resident ExileEditor
8.0
1981
Resident ExileDirector
8.0
1981
Resident ExileDirector of Photography
8.0
1979
Space CoastDirector
7.0
1979
Space CoastDirector of Photography
7.0
1977
7.5
1977
Charleen or How Long Has This Been Going On?Director of Photography
7.5
1976
68 Albany StreetDirector
8.0
1976
68 Albany StreetDirector of Photography
8.0
1974
20,000 Missing PersonsDirector of Photography
7.0
1974
20,000 Missing PersonsDirector
7.0