John Warren is an independent film/video artist, educator, and founder of the Far Out Film Fest, a psychedelic film festival that celebrated innovative and experimental cinema during its celebrated run. He is also a lecturer in the Department of Art at Vanderbilt University, where he teaches film and video production, inspiring the next generation of filmmakers to push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling.
His work spans film and installation, blending documentary, experimental, and narrative storytelling to explore lyrical and subjective intersections of reality and perception. Often using a 16mm Bolex motion picture camera, Warren creates art that questions, interprets, and expresses that which transcends language. His films have been exhibited internationally in museums, festivals, micro-cinemas, galleries, and unconventional venues.
He is currently in the research and development phase of Over Head, a feature-length documentary intended for PBS that explores the history of California’s psychedelic light shows. Simultaneously, he is in post-production on Frontierland, an experimental documentary examining Nashville’s complex and layered history.
In addition to his filmmaking, his feature-length screenplays have earned recognition in Hollywood, and his video editing for PBS garnered a Daytime Emmy nomination. He holds an MFA in Film & Video from the California Institute of the Arts, where he refined his craft in both traditional and experimental filmmaking. He lives in Nashville with his wife and daughter
