Chris J. Russo

Chris J. Russo is a part-time lecturer at the Department of Cinematic Arts within California State University, Long Beach, College of the Arts. As an award-winning documentary filmmaker and artist, her work focuses on social issues, outlier stories, and marginalized communities, blending visual storytelling with advocacy.

• Broad research interests include documentary film, LGBTQ+ studies, and marginalized voices in media.
• Her practice bridges creative filmmaking and technical expertise in Hollywood production/post-production.

Chris’s filmography explores themes such as cannabis legalization, gender identity, and marriage equality. Her work has been distributed by Starz, Amazon, and AppleTV+, and she has collaborated with major production entities like Gordon Ramsay Productions and Showtime.

Notable awards include:

• GLAAD Documentary Award (2024) for Beyond the Aggressives
• Mill Valley Film Festival Best Documentary (2021) for Lady Buds
• Outfest Best Short Documentary Award (2000) for Straight Down The Aisle

She also serves as a Post Production Supervisor in feature films and digital content, maintaining virtual office hours via Zoom for student advising.