Jeffrey Palmer

Jeffrey Palmer, an Associate Professor of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, is an award-winning filmmaker from the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. His work explores Indigenous peoples' experiences in 21st-century America through documentary and narrative film formats.

• Education: M.F.A. in Film and Video Production (University of Iowa, 2012), M.A. in Native American Studies (University of Oklahoma, 2006), B.A. in Cultural Anthropology (University of Oklahoma, 2000)

Research interests center on Indigenous cinema, focusing on cultural preservation, historical trauma, and contemporary Native American identity. His documentary work examines literary traditions, while his narrative projects address systemic issues in Indigenous communities.

Filmography highlights include N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear (2019 Emmy-nominated, Ted Turner Award winner) and Isabelle's Garden (2015 Sundance winner). His 2022 short film Ghosts explores Native American boarding school history.

• Scientific Awards
  • Emmy nomination (2020)
  • Ted Turner Award (2019)
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Short Film Challenge (2015)
  • Sundance Institute support
  • Firelight Media Documentary Lab participant

Grants include Ford Foundation recognition, Mellon Foundation funding, and ITVS support. Active in professional organizations (Directors Guild of America, International Documentary Association), he's currently developing the feature narrative version of Ghosts.