Transient Pictures

Real stories move people. We tell them with heart.

Transient Pictures was founded by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers with a shared passion for authentic, emotionally charged documentary films.

Two decades later, we remain a filmmaker-led company, following our curiosity where it takes us—from independent feature documentaries and studio films to campaigns and partnerships with brands, agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

It was a cold night in the Arizona desert. We’d borrowed a camera, skipped class, and traveled thousands of miles to find ourselves huddled in the bushes, elbow-to-elbow with a heavily-armed vigilante militia.

The U.S.-Mexico border was a far cry from our liberal arts campus, but meeting the impassioned individuals on both sides offered a sense of humanity we couldn’t have experienced another way—it was intoxicating.

Twenty years later, we’ve doubled down on crafting the authentic, emotional stories of real people, from teenagers to octogenarians, and refugees to CEOs.

Today, Transient is led by co-founder Landon Van Soest, who continues to executive produce and direct productions with a trusted network of leading talent.

Along the way, our films have reached audiences through Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and PBS. We’ve been honored by the Emmy Awards, the Sundance Institute, Critics Choice Awards, dozens of major film festivals, and several Human Rights organizations.

We’ve forged long-term storytelling partnerships with eBay, 23andMe, Brooklyn Brewery, and The Dramatists Guild, series production for Nationwide, UNICEF, Hackensack Meridian Health, and spots for Toyota, Nike, Facebook, Ben & Jerry’s, and many more.

But more than anything, we’ve met remarkable people and organizations who’ve trusted us with their stories. We’d love to help tell yours.

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Our Team

Our work is shaped by the community we call home.

In 2007, we founded the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective (BFC) on the simple idea that groundbreaking films are inspired by a passionate community of peers.

BFC has since grown into a vibrant community of professionals who come together weekly for peer critique and support. Members' work can be found on nearly every major streaming platform and has been recognized by the Academy Awards, Sundance, the Independent Spirit Awards, and many others.

The relationships we've built through BFC continue to shape our work today, giving every production access to an extraordinary community of collaborators who share our commitment to thoughtful, ambitious filmmaking.