Don Hardy

Don Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker with two decades of experience crafting documentaries that blend cinematic storytelling with a deep commitment to social justice and human connection. His credits include Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, an unflinching portrait of the legendary singer-songwriter that premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival; Citizen Penn, chronicling Sean Penn’s humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake; Pick of the Litter, which followed guide-dog puppies and inspired a Disney+ series he went on to showrun; and BAR, his most recent feature, offering a rare look inside the world of elite bartending. His broader filmography also spans wrongful conviction, global terrorism, environmental health, and avant-garde music.

Don’s work has premiered at top-tier festivals including Tribeca, Toronto, and SXSW, and reached global audiences via Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, Discovery+, and Amazon. Earlier in his career, he worked as a TV journalist for NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates in New York, Florida, and California, earning six regional Emmy Awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards — a background that still shows in the meticulous research and visual precision of his films.

In 2018 and 2019, Don was selected as a U.S. Envoy for the American Film Showcase, a State Department initiative using film diplomacy to foster dialogue worldwide. Whether following musicians, activists, or everyday heroes, he tells stories that challenge, inspire, and connect.