Bay Area Filmmaker
Focused on Community, Culture, and Long-Form Storytelling
jj islas
demo reel
JJ Islas is an independent documentary filmmaker based in the Bay Area, working with nonprofits, cultural institutions, and community organizations to create cinematic, long-form films. His work centers on thoughtful storytelling rooted in care, collaboration, and craft, with an emphasis on documenting histories, lived experience, and meaningful human stories.
Music by AAAA
work
🎥 🎬 🎞️
oye latinx youth conference
Check out this year’s OYE Latinx Youth Conference held at Cañada College in Redwood City, California. This year's OYE theme is, “Together We Rise/ Juntos Avanzamos.”
Producer
World War II: From the Frontlines
Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this Netflix Original Docuseries brings WWII to life like never before.
Archival Research Assistant
firehouse art collective
The Firehouse Art Collective 20th Anniversary Celebration Featuring Art Director Tom Franco.
Producer
THE BAD GIRLS RETREAT
Join Anumeha "Anu" Gupta as she takes a group of "Bad Girls" towards spiritual enlightenment at the beautiful Mount Madonna Retreat.
Producer
altadena benefit concert
The Altadena Benefit Concert brought the generous Bay Area community together to support individuals, families, and communities that are recovering from the devastating Eaton fires that occurred on January 2025.
Producer
Behind the scenes of INFECTIOUS THEATRE
A Behind the Scenes highlight of BraveMaker Academy's short film, INFECTIOUS THEATRE (2024).
Producer
San Mateo County Summer Public Service Career Fair
A highlight of the 2024 County of San Mateo Summer Public Service Career Fair.
Producer
strange remedy
A BraveMaker Academy short film about strangers finding healing in mysterious rooms.
Director of Photography
Post Production Supervisor
The Last Haven: Episode 1
The Closing of Hawes Elementary
Hawes Elementary, a school that was open for 62 years and whose student body was comprised of over 92% Latino students, was well on its way to becoming one of the top-scoring schools in the district when it closed its doors on May 31st, 2019 due to "lack of enrollment."
Producer
Mennonite Central Committee
The West Coast Mennonite Central Committee does global relief, development, and peace work in over 57 countries from their headquarters in Reedley, California.
Producer
de anza college's la voz
flea market highlight
A short highlight of De Anza College's monthly Flea Market reported by Xitlaly Martinez.Winner of two JACC Journalism Awards
Cinematographer
Editor
Headshot by Isolde Aburabi
© 2026 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.
El JJ
That's a wrap!
JJ Islas, B-Camera Operator Mandon Durazo,
and Production Assistant Harpreet Kaur Nijjer
at the BAD GIRLS RETREAT (2025)
I’m a Bay Area documentary filmmaker with over a decade of experience bringing meaningful stories to the screen. I blend a cinematic eye with a documentary sensibility, collaborating closely with nonprofits, art organizations, and communities whose histories and experiences deserve thoughtful, long-form documentation.Trained across every phase of production at Farallon Films with Academy Award–winner Steven Okazaki, I work as a writer, producer, director, cinematographer, and editor. I also supervise classic film restoration and archival remastering, bringing both technical precision and artistic care to every frame.
JJ Islas setting up a shot for the short film,
STRANGE REMEDY (2025)
I partner with Bay Area nonprofits, cultural institutions, and creative visionaries seeking storytelling that is considered, human, and built to endure. For those looking beyond formulaic video toward films shaped by intention, restraint, and cinematic craft, I welcome a conversation about how your story might be preserved and shared.Alongside public and institutional projects, I also undertake a limited number of private documentary commissions centered on legacy, history, and discretion.
© 2026 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.