Ken Burns

Documentary Filmmaker

Ken Burns

Documentary Filmmaker

Add to List Availability & Fees

Biography

Ken Burns has been making documentary films for almost fifty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Ken has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; The War; The National Parks: America’s Best Idea; Prohibition; The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; The Vietnam War; Country Music; The U.S. and the Holocaust; The American Buffalo; Leonardo da Vinci; and, most recently, The American Revolution.

Future film projects include Emancipation to Exodus, and LBJ & the Great Society, among others.

Ken’s films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including seventeen Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. In September of 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Ken was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In November of 2022, Ken was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Speaker Videos

Interview with Bill Maher

PBS Interview

Speech Topics

Moderated Discussion

Similar to an Inside-The-Actors-Studio event, Ken’s moderated discussions offer an inside look at his extraordinary filmmaking career, exploring the creative vision, research, and storytelling behind any of his landmark works, including his newest series The American Revolution. Through a thoughtful conversation guided by a moderator, Ken reflects on the themes, choices, and historical insights that continue to shape his documentaries and illuminate the American story.

Keynote Address

In addition to Ken’s moderated discussion—where he responds to questions from a moderator on all his films (or film-specific) and issues in history and contemporary American culture —he also offers a selection of focused keynote presentations drawn from his most acclaimed series (see options below). Audience Q&A is optional for all formats.

Old Ghosts and Ancient Tones (Country Music)
A History of the World (The Vietnam War)
The Rising Road (The Roosevelts: An Intimate History)
A Treasure House of Nature’s Superlatives (The National Parks: America’s Best Idea)
Sharing the American Experience (The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz)
No Ordinary Lives (The War – World War II)
Mystic Chords of Memory (The Civil War)
American Lives (selected biographical films including Jackie Robinson, Mark Twain, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Frank Lloyd Wright, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson)

Testimonials

"You won't be surprised to hear that Ken was amazing last night. He was mesmerizing (as I've heard about him) and fit in perfectly with our program, the occasion of which was to award our 3rd annual Hiett Prize in the Humanities to a young person."

- The Dallas Institute of Humanities

"His clips of The War were stunning. In addition, he's so personable, generous, and genuine. He's obviously devoted to his work and passionate about sharing it with everyone. I don't know how we'll top, or equal, him next year. We got nothing but compliments from the 400 in the audience, who left feeling that they had experienced something significant (which was true). Once again, thanks for helping us 'hit a home run,' as one of our donors said last night. I look forward to more."

- The Dallas Institute of Humanities

"It was a great event. Ken goes above and beyond on all accounts. He put the film together in segments that allowed him to introduce each segment in context. The Q&A portion was well done. I’d like to find a time to bring Ken back to Dallas!"

- -Dallas Center for the Performing Arts