Kieran Turner, Renowned Documentary Filmmaker, Passes Away at 56

Kieran Turner, a documentary filmmaker celebrated for his work on the 2012 film Jobriath A.D., has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 56 years old.

Turner died on December 23 in West Hollywood.

Championing Gay Artists

 

Throughout his career, Turner focused on highlighting the contributions of gay artists who left us too soon. In Jobriath A.D., he chronicled the life of the groundbreaking glam-rock musician Jobriath, the first openly gay rock star, who succumbed to AIDS complications at the age of 36 in 1983. The film is credited with rekindling interest in Jobriath’s music and facilitating the re-release of his catalog. Jobriath A.D. received numerous accolades at festivals such as the Dublin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Out on Film, the Seattle Queer Film Festival, and the Florida Film Festival.

Innovative Productions

 

Through his production company, Eight Track Tape Productions, Turner made significant contributions to both film and television. He created, wrote, produced, and directed the online series Wallflowers, which aired for two seasons on the Broadway-based network Stage17 and is currently available on the streaming platform Dekkoo. The series garnered awards at various streaming television competitions.

Recognition and Development

 

In addition to his filmmaking achievements, Turner was a 2021 CNN Docuseries Fellow. His screenplay Black Dogs was featured on the 2022 Black List and is presently in development with Star Thrower Entertainment.

Educational Background

 

Turner was an alumnus of NYU, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts from the esteemed Tisch School of the Arts.

Debut Feature Film

 

His first feature film, 24 Nights, which he wrote, produced, and directed as part of his graduate thesis, was showcased at over 60 festivals globally and won seven audience awards before being acquired for distribution by TLA Releasing.

Final Project

 

At the time of his passing, Turner was working on his final documentary project, Ghost Lights: Reclaiming Theater in the Age of AIDS. This feature aims to explore the lasting effects of the AIDS epidemic on the theater industry, featuring over 150 interviews with both pioneering figures and contemporary theater stars. Wise Child Studios, along with producer Christianne Tisdale and executive producers Brett Morgan and Jonathan Groff, are committed to completing the film in Turner’s memory.

Celebration of Life

 

A celebration of Turner’s life is scheduled for January. He is survived by his cousins from the East Coast and his close-knit circle of friends.

 

Person: Kieran Turner, Jobriath, Christianne Tisdale, Brett Morgan, Jonathan Groff

Company Names: Eight Track Tape Productions, Stage17, Dekkoo, TLA Releasing, Wise Child Studios, Star Thrower Entertainment

Titles: Jobriath A.D., Wallflowers, Black Dogs, 24 Nights, Ghost Lights: Reclaiming Theater in the Age of AIDS

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.