Josh Penn is an Academy Award nominated producer of documentaries and fiction films with the Department of Motion Pictures.
Josh Penn is a producer with the Department of Motion Pictures. He produced BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, the Cannes Caméra d’Or, and was nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Picture). In addition, Josh was nominated for Outstanding Producer at the 2013 Producer’s Guild Awards. He has premiered a dozen films at Sundance since 2012, garnering 5 awards from the festival. He has produced MONSTERS AND MEN (Sundance Special Jury Prize), the series PHILLY D.A. (2021 Gotham Award Winner), 32 Sounds (Sundance 2022 Opening event), A THOUSAND THOUGHTS, WENDY, USERS (Sundance 2021 Best Directors Award), and FAREWELL AMOR, among others. He was an Executive Producer on PATTI CAKE$, WESTERN (Sundance Special Jury Prize), THE GREAT INVISIBLE (SXSW Grand Jury Prize), and BLOODY NOSE EMPTY POCKETS. Josh has served as a mentor for places ranging from The Sundance Institute to Film Independent to AFI. In 2018, Josh became a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. Outside of his work in film, Josh has worked in politics including lead roles on the digital teams for both of the Obama Presidential campaigns.