Brian Padian is a filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon. His credits as writer/director include the feature film THE BLACK SEA, the webseries MICROAGGRESSIONS, the experimental narrative short APOLOGY GHOST and others. He recently edited and directed the short documentary GRIEF STICK and is in post-production on his second narrative feature SISTER/BROTHER. Brian's projects have screened at Dances With Films, Portland Film Festival, Local Sightings, Oregon Documentary Film Fest, McMinnville Short Film Fest, NYC Webfest, Defy Film Fest and others. A brain tumor survivor,  Brian's films frequently explore the symbiotic relationship of light and darkness, time and death. A recipient of project grants from the Regional Arts + Culture Council and recognized as a Final Draft Fellow at Stowe Story Labs, Brian holds an MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute, where he received the Jack Oakie Memorial Scholarship. After film school, Brian went on Jeopardy with sole aim of winning money to delay taking a day job but he sadly came in second place and received the slender consolation of a wrist-watch. Brian's day jobs have included screenwriter's assistant, projectionist, production company mailroom technician, runner, and, after he left Los Angeles, working twenty-plus years in varying capacities in municipal government. Additional interests include photography, running, watching movies.

latest news

  • March 2026 project updates and more via substack here

  • How Do You Move in This World selected for Vastlab Experimental Film Fest, Summer 2026. My response to their Q + A below