Kevin Peer
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR / WRITER / TEACHER
Portugal, 2024 / Photo by Isabella Johannson
Kevin's great passions in the realm of documentary film are twofold: first is the making of films that promote wonder, understanding, and an engaged love for humankind and Earth. Second is the teaching of the technical, cognitive, intuitive and creative techniques and processes that are necessary for the making of moving, effective and award-winning documentary films. For Kevin, empowering future generations of inspired and skilled filmmakers is an honor and a calling.
Kevin’s media career over the past 45 years has included staff positions as a filmmaker for National Geographic Television and the National Park Service; a fascinating and soul-challenging period directing and shooting national and regional television commercials; freelance documentary filmmaking; creating and directing a graduate level film course track at Naropa University-West; being a guest lecturer at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, the University of Colorado - Boulder, and JFK University. Kevin has also given filmmaking workshops around the country at various venues including the famed Omega Institute and the Maine Media Workshops.
Kevin on location in Denali National Park Alaska, shortly before being hunted (unsuccessfully) for several hours by an immense and very hungry grizzly bear.
The subjects explored in Kevin's films have ranged from Zen archery to the nuclear testing program in the Bikini Atoll; from Navajo spiritual healing practices to the world's largest fish market in Tokyo, Japan; and from the wilderness of Alaska to the Wodaabe tribe of Niger, West Africa. His work has been seen by audiences around the world and has garnered over 40 national and international film festival awards, including 2 national Emmy nominations. For a complete list of Kevin's films, see Projects & Acclaim
Between 2006 and 2014 Kevin took a sabbatical from film production and teaching to focus on healing and learning from a serious case of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. It is ironic that after close encounters with grizzly bears, alligators and poisonous snakes, near-plane crashes and a mine shaft fall, it was a tick the size of a poppy seed that just about undid him. However the wisdom gained from this health adventure has been invaluable in many ways, and for that he is grateful.
Kevin on location in Denali NP Alaska, shortly before being hunted (unsuccessfully) for hours by a large grizzly bear.
The subjects explored in Kevin's films have ranged from Zen archery to the nuclear testing program in the Bikini Atoll; from Navajo spiritual healing practices to the world's largest fish market in Tokyo, Japan; and from the wilderness of Alaska to the Wodaabe tribe of Niger, West Africa. His work has been seen by audiences around the world and has garnered over 40 national and international film festival awards, including 2 national Emmy nominations. For a complete list of Kevin's films, see Filmography & Awards.
Between 2006 and 2014 Kevin took a sabbatical from film production and teaching to focus on healing and learning from a serious case of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. It is ironic that after close encounters with grizzly bears, alligators and poisonous snakes, near-plane crashes and a mine shaft fall, it was a tick the size of a poppy seed that just about undid him. However the wisdom gained from this health adventure has been invaluable in many ways, and for that he is grateful.
"After some years of yearning for clear evidence that my films were having a positive effect on the world, I realized that it is more important to simply connect with my own sense of soul-inspired purpose - my calling - and to honor that calling with love, fidelity and resilience. Of course I desire for my films to benefit the world, but it is a love for all Life - not a guarantee of results - that feeds my heart and fuels my work.”