DAVID BRADBURN
Where he's at
David Bradburn grew up outside of Chicago in Elgin, Illinois, where he made his first films in high school, a collection of shorts and mock commercials he hoped would land on America’s Funniest Home Videos.
They didn’t.
Three decades later, his sense of humor is still intact and so is his love for telling stories. Now a Chicago-based director, producer, and recovering high school English teacher, Bradburn has created award-winning films that have screened at more than 80 festivals worldwide, aired on TV, and gotten just enough attention to make a middle child feel noticed. Whether it’s a gritty short, heartfelt documentary, or polished brand piece for clients like Kenmore and FOX, he brings equal parts craft, humor, and caffeine to every set.
When he’s not on set, he’s scheming the next one, because for this middle child, attention may be fleeting, but content is forever.
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Where he's been
Commercial & Corporate Work
🎓 Parker University (Regional Campaigns) — Directed branded content and recruitment campaigns that ran nationally, capturing the university’s values, academic excellence, and
student success stories.
🏥 Stryker Medical (National & International Campaigns) — Produced impactful campaigns distributed both nationally and internationally, showcasing cutting-edge healthcare technology and the people driving innovation.
🧊 Kenmore — Created a series of web ads for refrigerators, washers, and dryers that combined product clarity with approachable storytelling.
🦊 FOX (Empire) — Produced electronic press kits (EPKs) and behind-the-scenes content for the hit show Empire, offering press and fans a unique look into the production.
💼 Corporate & Institutional Clients — Delivered brand pieces and communications for a diverse client base across healthcare, education, retail, and entertainment.
🎥 Commercial Reel — A curated reel of commercial and corporate work (available upon request), spotlighting projects with national reach and cinematic polish.
Narrative & Documentary Highlights
Selected Works (screened at 80+ festivals worldwide, with nearly a dozen awards):
🥜 My Best Nut — heartfelt short about resilience and humor in the face of illness
⏰ Before You Woke — reclaiming control and destiny through pivotal choices
👶 Rockabye — intimate drama on grief, fatherhood, and resilience
🦸 Superhero Me — Beverly Hills Film Festival finalist script reimagining identity and heroism
✈️🌊 Through Air & Water — documentary portrait of WWII pilot and innovator Will Forman
👉 Explore the full slate of films on the Fork the Man Productions Filmology page.
Community & Mentorship
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Von Steuben High School Film Festival — Produced the festival for six years, securing grants and giving Chicago students hands-on filmmaking opportunities.
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Collaborative Vision — Driven to foster creative partnerships, elevate independent filmmaking in Chicago, and infuse every project with humor, empathy, and craft.
SELECTED AWARDS
MY BEST NUT
BEST CHICAGO FILM - 2024 SUPERCUT 100
BEST SHORT FICTION - APRIL 2025 IMAGINE FILM FESTIVAL BARCELONA
FAMILY
BEST DIRECTOR DRAMATIC SHORT - 2019 TWISTER ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
BEST ILLINOIS FILM - 2022 ROUTE 66 FILM FESTIVAL
BEFORE YOU WOKE
INDIE SPIRIT AWARD - 2018 TWISTER ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
NOMINATED BEST DIRECTOR - 2018 TWISTER ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
BEST MICRO ACTION FILM - 2020 OREGON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
ROCKABYE
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD 2017 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL REEL SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
NOMINATED BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM - 2017 HOLLYWOOD DREAMZ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Where he's going...
Let's work together.
Contact
312.519.2671