Areas of Research/Artistic Focus: Documentary filmmaking, color grading, disability in film, video installation art, interactive documentary

Heather Cassano is an independent documentary filmmaker and the director of Spin One Films. Her films blend an observational style with deeply personal narratives, striving to tell authentic stories through her personal experiences. Heather’s first feature documentary THE LIMITS OF MY WORLD (2018) screened at numerous festivals across the U.S. and internationally, winning three Best Documentary awards and a Jury Prize. She is now working on her second feature documentary THE FATE OF HUMAN BEINGS, which has been supported by the LEF Foundation, UnionDocs, the UConn School of Fine Arts, and the Center for Independent Documentary.

When she’s not directing documentaries, Heather works as an editor and colorist on independent short and feature films. She is also the Shorts Program Director of Salem Film Fest.

Selected awards, residencies, and film festivals: 

— Blue Mountain Center Artist Residency, 2022

— UConn School of Fine Arts Research Grant, 2021

— Looky Looky Pictures Guided Impact Campaign Fellowship, 2021

— UnionDocs Summer Documentary Labs, 2020

— LEF Foundation Moving Image Fund, 2019

— Jury Prize, Alameda International Film Festival, 2018

— Best Documentary Feature, Venice Film Week

— Best Documentary, Massachusetts Independent Film Festival

— Best Documentary Feature, Somerville International Film Festival

— Official Selection, Independent Film Festival Boston, 2018

— Official Selection, Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival, 2018

— Official Selection, Awareness Film Festival, 2018

— Official Selection, Orlando Film Festival, 2018