Jethro Waters is a multi-award winning Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, and Cinematographer.
He makes his narrative feature debut with the critically acclaimed dark comedy / horror GUNFIGHTER PARADISE, in theaters summer 2026.
REVIEWS
“Fiercely original auteur cinema…unquestionably luminous cinematography” - Los Angeles Times
“Nirvana for film nerds…promise to be seen and pleasures to be gleaned” - The New York Sun
“Gunfighter Paradise paints a reverent but challenging picture of America, as holy and horrifying as any.” - Film Obsessive
"A surreal, experimental, poetic and provocative psychological journey with shades of Lynch and Buñuel." - NYC Movie Guru.
Waters wrote, produced, directed, shot, edited, and scored GUNFIGHTER PARADISE. The cast includes Jessica Hecht, Valient Himself. Executive Produced by Nancy Buirski.
Legendary Renato Casaro hand painted the movie poster
Waters’ documentary feature debut F11 AND BE THERE was chosen as a New York Times Critic’s Picks, won an Emmy Award, screened in select theaters internationally, and is featured on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, PBS, Kanopy, and many other networks.
His music video work with artists like John Cale, Angel Olsen, among many others, has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, The New York Times, Spin, Pitchfork, NPR and reached millions of viewers across the globe.
Waters was the colorist for Nancy Buirski’s Academy Award Shortlisted documentary Desperate Souls, Dark City, and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy.
He directed the film TROPICALIA for Groupo Cisneros and The Four Seasons in the Dominican Republic.
Waters directed a series of short documentaries on architecture, design, and sustainability, working with architects and luminaries like Tadao Ando, Estudio Ramos, Nacho Figueras, and others.
His short experimental film YENE FIKIR opened at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, with a live score performed by acclaimed musician Natalie Prass. His short film REMAINS, a collaboration with legendary Magnum and Life photographer Burk Uzzle, was selected for the Civil Rights museum exhibition “I Am a Man” curated by William R. Ferris, which exhibited in art museums internationally.