JOANNA KOHLER

Joanna Kohler has been directing social documentaries since 1998. Joanna is a Minneapolis native with a passion for bringing community stories to new and wider audiences. Joanna began making documentaries as a teenager and went on to the University of Minnesota to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Social Documentary. Joanna completed some graduate studies in Public Affairs, completed a year long certification in participatory facilitation with the Institute for Cultural Affairs, and been trained with the New Mexico Media Literacy Project. Previous documentaries include Witness (1999), Moving in a Mirror (2004), Boxers (2007), Minnesota Motorcycle Stories (present). Joanna has been awarded by the Jerome Foundation in 2005 and 2006 for her documentary work.

Joanna volunteers as the Board Chair for St. Paul Neighborhood Network, Minnesota Women in Film and Television Communication Committee and is a member of Minnesota Independent Feature Project.

In addition to her documentary work, Joanna served as the Coordinator for the Twin Cities Youth Media Network and has worked as a youth media educator since 1999.