David L. Brown Biography

David L. Brown is a San Francisco documentary filmmaker who has produced, written and directed over 80 productions and 10 broadcast documentaries on social, nuclear, environmental, health, technology, peace and justice issues.  His documentaries have received over 75 international awards, include two Emmy nominations, and have been broadcast on PBS and in fifteen countries. 

Recent work includes SENIORS FOR PEACE, a 26-minute portrait of a group of articulate and passionate senior peace activists (average age 85) which aired on PBS in 2004;  and SURFING FOR LIFE, an inspirational one hour documentary on older surfers as models of healthy aging.  It screened theatrically in 40 cities, was broadcast on over 140 PBS stations, won 15 international awards (including the Golden Maile for Best Documentary at the Hawai'i International Film Festival), and was profiled in The New York Times Magazine, Parade Magazine, on National Public Radio and ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.  The San Francisco Chronicle called it “a treasure, perhaps the most intelligent treatment of surfing ever captured on film.”

Brown produced several films on nuclear and environmental issues culminating in BOUND BY THE WIND, a moving documentary on the global legacy of nuclear weapons testing and the plight of the world's “downwinders.” It won 20 international awards and has been broadcast on PBS and in 14 countries.  The Boston Globe called it “far and away the best film on the nuclear legacy.” 

Brown teaches Documentary Filmmaking at the City College of San Francisco and UC Berkeley Extension and the History of Documentary at Film Arts Foundation.  His current projects in production include a one hour film biography of legendary 94-year-old surfer-sailor Woody Brown.  His web site is www.DLBFilms.com.  He can be reached at (415) 468-7469.