Brian Benson

Brian Benson is a Lecturer in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University, teaching courses in Film Production and Financing. He holds a faculty position with expertise in independent filmmaking, documentary production, and arts programming. His professional contact details include phone number (415) 420-3009 and office location at the Fine Arts Building.

With a career spanning over two decades, Benson has produced and directed numerous acclaimed films including Sundance selections like Haiku Tunnel (2001), Dopamine (2003), and Howl (2010). His work Dolores (2017) earned a Peabody Award and Emmy nomination. Notable credits include co-producing the commercial hit Sorry to Bother You (2018) and serving as First Assistant Director on The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015).

Benson’s research interests focus on innovative financing models for independent cinema, the intersection of social justice in documentary storytelling, and the evolution of digital distribution platforms. He has developed a decade-long short film series currently touring international festivals, while concurrently producing new feature films and developing an original musical project.

Honors include the Sundance Producer's Fellowship (2002) and a 2017 Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh rating for Dolores. His creative practice extends to curating San Francisco’s first permanent outdoor digital arts festival in 2006, demonstrating commitment to public-facing cultural initiatives.