Dean at the 2023 Burbank International Film Festival awards ceremony
Known for creating stories for the hopeless romantics, Dean Parker is an American director & editor born and raised in Loveland, Ohio and is currently based in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the Ohio University School of Media Arts & Science.
Since being enthralled as a kid by movies like Toy Story, Harry Potter, and E.T, Dean has never stopped making films. Over the years, his work has been selected for screening at dozens of film festivals, including the Academy Award qualifying Nashville Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, and LA Shorts International Film Festival. More recently, he was nominated for the Tim Burton “Native Burbank” Visionary Award and the Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Award for his short film "Don't Do It.”
Dean's reoccurring themes of romanticism, belonging and desire have been an important part of what he creates. His excitement for storytelling possibilities and working with new and talented collaborators is what keeps his passion for filmmaking alive. He hopes with each project he undertakes that viewers will experience an emotional journey, and that he will also find something new to improve on as a filmmaker and human-being.
SELECTED ACCOLADES
NOMINEE: Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Award - 2023 Catalina Film Festival (for Don’t Do It)
NOMINEE: Tim Burton “Native Burbank” Visionary Award - 2023 Burbank International Film Festival (for Don’t Do It)
2023 Official Selection at LA Shorts International Film Festival (for Don't Do It)
2021 Official Selection at Cinequest Film & VR Festival (for Dead Emerson: Sucker Punch)
2020 Official Selection at National Film Festival for Talented Youth (for Dead Emerson: Sucker Punch)
2017 Official Selection at Nashville Film Festival (for Images)
60th CINE Golden Eagle Award for Narrative Youth Media (for Images)
2021 NATAS Ohio Valley Emmy Student Production Award - Long Form Fiction (for Virtually in Love)