Jethro Waters is an American independent filmmaker, known for the documentary feature F11 and Be There (2020) [1] and the narrative feature Gunfighter Paradise (2024). [2] He is a screenwriter, director, cinematographer, editor, producer, and composer. [3]
He is also known for directing music videos for various artists, including John Cale, Weyes Blood [4] and Angel Olsen. [5]
Known for a lyrical, experimental, and surrealist style that spans multiple genres, [6] his films are representative of an auteur method, with his cinematography being praised by critics as a distinctive element of his work. His satirical narrative feature Gunfighter Paradise has been described as a dark comedy, horror, and mystery film [7] that explores themes of religion, grief, family, and The American South. [8]
His documentary films have often focused on artists and photographers. [9] He won an Emmy Award for the documentary feature F11 and Be There 2021 Midsouth Emmy Awards. [10]
Waters was born in Texas and raised in North Carolina. [11] He attended West Lincoln High School in Lincolnton, North Carolina, and attended college at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. [12] [13]