TJ Penton

T.J. Penton is an award-winning writer, director & director of photography.

Before becoming a filmmaker, he began his artistic vision producing electronic music. While writing & producing music for over two decades, he then looked for a new artistic challenge and therefore derived a curiosity for filmmaking. He then went on to study cinematography and film production. Shortly after, he formed his production company Shokunin 21 Films. Within the last three years he has gone on to write, produce, dop, and direct several award winning short-films, Disclosure, Loneheart, and Something Evil Becomes Us. And is now collaborating with various producers producing new upcoming narrative projects.

Currently, his latest narrative suspense drama, Something Evil Becomes Us was recently selected to be shown at the prestigious 2020 Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival. While marketing his latest works, he is also in pre & post production for various narrative short-films, commercial projects, & nature environmental documentaries.

Awards & Nominations: Official Selection - 2020 edition of the Short Film Corner with Cannes Film Festival Outstanding Achievement Award (Crime Short) - Indie Short Fest. Best Picture - Sunset Film Festival Best Drama - Top Shorts Best Drama - Life Fest FF Best Male Director - Indt. Shorts Awards Best Cinematography - Indt. Shorts Awards Best 1st Time Director - Independent Shorts Awards Best Cinematography - Independent Shorts Awards Best Crime Short - Independent Shorts Awards Best Cinematography - Spring Shorts FF Winner, Narrative - Top Shorts Winner - Colorado Int. Activism FF Semi Finalist - LAIFFA Semi Finalist - Utah Festival & Awards