Hunter Robert Baker is a New York City and Los Angeles based Emmy® Award and Cannes Lions winning feature film, television, and commercial director and producer. Hunter has also been nominated for 3 Emmy® Awards. Hunter has worked on Navajo Nation for over a decade bringing powerful stories from the frontline of desert communities to the front pages of publications and media outlets around the world. From fiction to non-fiction Hunter’s work has been rooted in under-reported stories and voices not often heard. Most recently, Baker worked in the Northern Alaskan Arctic Circle with the Inupiaq tribe, on the award-winning fiction anthology series HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, Starring Jodi Foster and Kali Reis.
Hunter is an alumni of NYU, where he studied cinematography, directing and anthropology balancing his time in special programs in Cuba and South Africa. In 2012 Hunter was the recipient of the ARRI Volker Bahnemann Cinematography Award. At 18 Baker started working for HBO on various series including 24/7 following the lives of world class boxers including Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya.
Bridging the gap from documentary to narrative cinematographer Hunter's long interest in fiction based work drew him to collaborate on dozens of films. In 2013 he produced and shot Without Fire, recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science Grant for (Dir. Eliza McNitt) starring Magdalena Begay and Misty Upham (Frozen River) which won Best Dramatic Film at the Arizona International Film Festival.
In 2015 Hunter was an Executive Producer of feature film Miles, (Dir. Nathan Adloff) starring Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Missi Pyle, and Tim Boardman. He also started his development and film finance company Turquoise Horse which debuted Miles at Seattle International Film Festival and is currently on Netflix. In 2016 he won 3 Cannes Lions Awards, 1 Clio Award and received his second Emmy Nomination.
Baker's projects have been the recipient of support from the Alfred P Sloan Foundation, the International Documentary Association Pare Lorentz Fund and recently the Points North Fellowship for co-directing the multi-award winning feature documentary The Blessing. He was invited to speak at the Impact Haus during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival; the topic was “Empathy in Telling Insider Stories.” Independent Magazine named him a “Filmmaker to Watch”. Hunter has lectured at New York University, Harvard University, and most recently the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
Hunter Robert Baker made his feature directorial debut at Full Frame Film Festival in 2018 for co-directing The Blessing. A feature length documentary set over the course of 5 years on the Navajo Nation.
Baker’s work has been featured in the Smithsonian Institute, Native Cinema Showcase and Institute Of American Indian Arts Museum Of Contemporary Native Arts.
In 2021 Hunter Robert Baker shot and co-executive produced, Dir. Marshall Burnette’s “Silo” Starring Jim Parrack, Jeremy Holm, Chris Ellis, Jill Paice and Jack DiFalco.
In 2022 Hunter Robert Baker shot and co-produced, the Emmy Nominated feature film, Point Gods for Showtime. The film’s producers also include, Coodie & Chike (Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, and Kevin Durant. The film chronicles the 1980’s/1990’s New York City crack epidemic and the decades that produced a distinct style of play and some of the most prolific point guards to ever take the court.
Hunter has worked with the Navajo Nation for over 8 years bringing powerful stories from the frontline of desert communities to the front pages of publications and media outlets around the world. From fiction to non-fiction Hunter’s work has been rooted in under-reported stories and voices not often heard from around the world.
Hunter resides on a horse farm with his family outside of New York City and in northern New Mexico.
2023
Hunter Robert Baker shoots, HBO True Detective Night Country as Alaska Unit Director Of Photography.
Point Gods receives Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Long Documentary
2022
Point Gods premieres on Showtime and Streaming on Showtime App.
Point Gods, NY Mag article, Is NYC Still The Center Of The Basketball Universe?
Point Gods, deadline feature, Point Gods sets airdate July 29th 9pm EST Showtime and Streaming on Showtime App.
The Blessing, 43rd Annual Telly Awards, The Blessing wins a bronze Telly Award.
2021
Hunter Robert Baker shoots and co-produces, feature film, Point Gods for Showtime.
Silo, Release on Itunes and Amazon Prime
Silo premieres in 100 theaters across the US as one of the first post-pandemic theatrical releases.
Silo, Oscilloscope Laboratories acquires grain entrapment drama, DEADLINE FEATURE
2019
The Blessing wins the Big Sky Award at Big Sky Film Festival
The Blessing debuts at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. for D.C.
Hunter lectures at Harvard University to the VES PhD and Graduate Students on non fiction storytelling and the topic; “Through the Lens of Perspective Storytelling”
2018
Filmmaker Magazine features The Blessing “An Emotional Powder Keg” "The film’s a nearly Shakespearean drama, one in which a deeply religious father is forced to choose between sacrilege (taking part in the destruction of his sacred tribal mountain) and feeding his kid" - Filmmaker Magazine
Wandering DP Podcast sits down for a conversation with Hunter Robert Baker on balancing being human with being a filmmaker.
The Blessing will be in competition at Santa Fe Independent Film Festival’s 10th year anniversary and is in the First 10 Feature Film Selection amongst films such as Palme D'Or Shoplifters, On Her Shoulders, The Silence Of Others and more.
Hunter Robert Baker shoots and co-executive produces, Dir. Marshall Burnette’s feature film Silo Starring Jim Parrack, Jeremy Holm, Chris Ellis, Jill Paice and Jack DiFalco.
Hollywood Reporter features Hunter Robert Baker his ICG: International Cinematographers Guild ECA Award
Hunter Robert Baker wins the 2018 ICG: International Cinematographers Guild Emerging Cinematographer Award
The Blessing wins Grand Jury Prize at Dallas International Film Festival
The Blessing wins Best Feature Documentary at Arizona International Film Festival
The Blessing wins Best of Fest at MSP Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival
World Premiere of The Blessing at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
2017
ADWEEK: Ad of the Day feature | HP - Little Moments shot by Hunter Robert Baker
Hunter Robert Baker is featured in Modern Cinematographer podcast series
2016
Miles, wins the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at Outfest presented by HBO
Hunter and Jordan Fein win Clio Award and 3 Cannes Lions Awards at the 2016 Cannes Lions Festival for their Volvo, Highway Robbery commercial
Adweek features Superbowl 50 Grammys Mashup Spot as Adweek Ad of The Day shot by Hunter Baker for PrettyBird US
2015
Variety spotlights Miles, shot by Hunter Baker
Hunter Executive Produces and shoots feature film Miles, Dir. Nathan Adloff Starring Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Missi Pyle, and Tim Boardman
New York Times spotlights Boots and the upcoming film, Motorcycle Jesus shot by Hunter Baker
Nowness.com premieres the trailer and article for Motorcycle Jesus shot by Hunter Baker.
Deadline Hollywood discusses Peacock Killer and MadBrook Films, formation by Madeleine Sackler and Boyd Holbrook
2014
Atlanta International Film Festival, Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt - Best Dramatic Short Film
Fusion Film Festival, Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt - Best Picture, Best Cinematography
Hunter Baker shoots, Peacock Killer directed by Boyd Holbrook starring Shea Whigham and Elizabeth Marvel
Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt (Sun Valley Film Festival - Official Selection) (Atlanta Film Festival - Official Selection) (Santa Fe Film Festival - Official Selection) (Fusion Film Festival - Official Selection) (Arizona International Film Festival - Official Selection)
2013
Hunter Baker shoots, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros' new music video series, "Life is Hard" Dir. Alex Ebert
Hunter Baker shoots, Without Fire, Dir. Eliza Mcnitt, Recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Production Grant Award. Shot on Location on the Navajo Reservation in Pinon, Arizona. Starring Misty Upham (Frozen River 2008 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner).
The London International Film Festival of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film 2013 (Official Selection) The Giraffe Who Knew Too Much - Dir. Eric Tosstorff
2012
Hunter Baker shoots, Eg Anda music video, Dir. Ramin Bahrani, for Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Tribeca Film Institute writes, "Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo) has made a video around the band's song "Ég anda. Shot beautifully by Hunter Baker, the video examines how the evolving industrialization of the country is affecting our wildlife. The video is dedicated to Jenni Jenkins, who co-authored the story behind Bahrani's 2009 short film Plastic Bag and tragically died last year."
CMF International, Violet, Dir. Eliza McNitt – Best Drama and Best Cinematography Award presented by Wally Pfister, ASC.
Recipient of the ARRI Volker Bahnemann Cinematography Award presented by ARRI Founder, Volker Bahnemann .
CMF, Violet, Dir. Eliza Mcnitt – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Cinematography.
2011
Emmy Award Winner (HBO 24/7 Penguins vs. Capitols Road to the NHL Winter Classic).