Jackson Montemayor is a freelance cinematographer based in Los Angeles and working across documentary, narrative, commercial, and music video projects. His latest feature, Seized, is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026 in the U.S. Documentary Competition.

A lifelong explorer at heart, he has always been drawn to new people, places, and experiences, pursuing a deeper understanding of the world and the stories within it. That curiosity led him to cinematography, where he found a way to continue exploring the human experience through the moving image.

His work grows from that spirit of exploration, using light, shadow, composition, color, and movement to reveal character and guide audiences toward the emotional core of a story. Jackson approaches cinematography as a process of discovery, shaping images that invite viewers to look closer, reflect, and connect more deeply with the story on screen.

Jackson’s resume includes work on Parker (Sundance 2023, The New Yorker), The Flagmakers (Emmy for Outstanding Documentary, Disney+/National Geographic), Let Us Prey (HBO), along with music videos for artists Lil Wayne, Tech N9ne, and Sarah Barrios, as well as campaigns for brands including Wendy’s, Mazda, and Liquid Death