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Ken Burns Biography

Birth Name:Kenneth Lauren Burns

Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Writer, Actor, Camera department, Music department

Fast Facts

Received the 1986 Erik Barnouw Award from the Organization of American Historians for his work in "Huey Long․"
Made his first documentary at the age of 17 after receiving an 8 mm camera for his birthday
Quote: "In so many films that I've done, short-sightedness is one of the major human themes․ We live for the moment․ No one's willing to do the necessary rolling up the sleeves until the catastrophe happens․"
Often creates an action sequence by filming a single piece of art at various angles
Is the brother of fellow documentary filmmaker Ric Burns
Turned down a chance to attend the University of Michigan so he could go to Hampshire College, where he was able to create a self-directed academic concentration instead of a traditional major

Awards

1981Blue Ribbon Award-Documentary: winner
1981CINE Golden Eagle-Documentary: winner
1981Gold Hugo-Best Documentary: nominated
1982Oscar-Best Documentary, Features: nominated
1983Christopher Award-Best Documentary: winner
1983Erik Barnouw Award-: winner
1985Red Ribbon Award-Documentary: winner
1986Oscar-Best Documentary, Features: nominated
1986Erik Barnouw Award-: winner
1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1986Grand Jury Prize-Documentary: nominated
1987Christopher Award-Best Documentary: winner
1988CINE Golden Eagle-Documentary: winner
1990Blue Ribbon Award-Documentary: winner
1990CINE Golden Eagle-Documentary: winner
1990CINE Golden Eagle-Documentary Series: winner
1990Christopher Award-Best Documentary: winner
1991Silver FIPA-Documentary and Essay: winner
1991Humanitas Prize-Documentaries - Special Awards Category: winner
1991IDA Award-: winner
1991PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Television: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Series: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual - Informational Programming: winner
1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Series: winner
1998Vision Award-Television: winner
1998Golden Space Needle Award-Best Documentary: winner
1998Grand Jury Prize-Documentary: nominated
1998Bronze Wrangler-Western Documentary: winner
1998Spur Award-Best Documentary Script: winner
2000Christopher Award-Best Documentary: winner
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Cinematography for Non-Fiction Programming: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Series: nominated
2002Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
2007Christopher Award-Best Documentary: winner
2007Canal+ Award-Best Documentary: winner
2008DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: nominated
2008IDA Award-Limited Series: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming: nominated
2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Series: winner
2012Grierson Award-: nominated
2012Gold Hugo-Best Documentary: nominated
2012Audience Choice Award-Best Documentary Feature: winner
2012Video Source Award-: nominated
2012IDA Award-Best Feature: nominated
2013Black Reel-Best Documentary: winner
2013Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for Justice: nominated
2013Independent Spirit Award-Best Documentary: nominated
2013Gabriel Award-Documentary: winner
2013OFTA Film Award-Best Documentary Picture: nominated
2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2013Bronze Wrangler-Western Documentary: winner
2013WGA Award (Screen)-Best Documentary Screenplay: nominated
2014Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Television Documentary or Special: nominated
2017Clarion Award-Television Documentary Program - National: winner
2017IDA Award-Best Limited Series: nominated
2018BAFTA TV Award-Best International: nominated
2018Clarion Award-Television Documentary Series - National: winner
2018DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: nominated
2020Bronze Wrangler-Documentary: winner
2022FOCAL Award-Best Use of Footage in a Sports Production: winner
2023IDA Award-Best TV Feature Documentary or Mini-Series: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: nominated