Alexandra Nikolchev is a NYC-based documentary filmmaker passionate about creating space for unexpected voices to emerge in our media landscape. Her credits as director, producer and cinematographer include HBO, NBC, PBS. Alexandra has produced two feature films with national broadcast premieres and won Peabody and Emmy Awards for her work. She studied journalism at New York University and received her undergraduate degree in rhetoric and education from University of California, Berkeley.
As co-founder of Hot in Here Productions, Alexandra has experience with soup-to-nuts branded content to which she brings a top level of professionalism, creativity, leadership and problem-solving. She values diverse voices on all of her projects, both in front and behind the camera. Collaboration in filmmaking is key and Alexandra feels lucky to have worked with many great people in her industry.
Read more about her process on dscout.
Director & Producer credits include:
Breaking Form, Director, feature documentary about choreographer Jane Comfort, a maverick in downtown NYC dance, Film at Lincoln Center presenting Dance on Camera Festival world premiere 2024
Iconic America, Producer, PBS essay-style documentary series examining American symbols and icons, Show of Force, WETA, Producer on one-hour episode about Hollywood and the Hollywood sign with host David Rubenstein, airdate 2023
2020 Chaos and Hope, Story Producer, feature documentary streaming on Peacock that features a group of individuals and renowned experts reflecting on the year 2020 and contemplating America’s future, film festival and broadcast premiere, 2023
Sex Diaries, Director / Producer, HBO 4-part verite-style documentary series profiling a range of New Yorkers as they navigate love and sex, Big Pond Films, Vox Media, Director on 2 episodes, Producer on 4 episodes, HBO broadcast, December 2022
The Place That Makes Us, Producer / Director of Photography, feature documentary following a new generation rebuilding home in former steal town Youngstown, Ohio, DOC NYC FF official selection, 2020 & America Reframed broadcast on PBS, 2021
The 100 Million, Director / Producer, documentary series following non-voting Americans in daily life to understand why they don’t show up at the polls, Show of Force Productions, Knight Foundation, 2020
Red, White, & Who, Booking Producer, one-hour MSNBC primetime health special broadcast examining Medicaid through the voices of everyday Americans with Peacock Productions and host Francesca Fiorentini for MSNBC, 2019
Her America, Field & Booking Producer, short documentary films and photo essays profiling American women and their top concerns and opinions, Lifetime Network/A&E, 2018
Women in the World, Producer, Tina Brown’s live magazine journalism summit featuring panels on hot button issues with top billing international women trailblazers, 2018
No Le Digas a Nadie / Don't Tell Anyone, Producer, feature documentary following an undocumented activist and her mother navigating the U.S. immigration system, Portret Films, SFFF premiere, PBS/POV broadcast, 2015 & Peabody Award winner, 2016
Brooklyn's Cover Girl, Director / Director of Photography, documentary short profiling a Brooklyn woman’s launch of her Muslim fashion line around modesty , BRIC TV, Narratively, 2016
A New Approach to Prosecution, Director, video project looking at innovative approaches within the criminal justice system for Narratively/Vera Institute, 2016
AJ+ Mexican Folk Music + Smiths = Mariachi Manchester, Director, documentary short about an L.A. Mariachi band who covers Morrissey, Al Jazeera, 2016
Welcome to Uncovered, Producer, a photo essay and podcast on life with DACA status, Fusion, 2016
Home Matters, Director, documentary campaign about redefining the American dream and affordable housing, MacArthur Foundation, 2014
Additional Documentary Director / Producer Credits include: Ford Foundation, PBS, Radical Media, Participant Media, AJ+ (Al Jazeera), Moyers & Company, Portret Films, Malala Fund, Loki Films, StoryCorps, BRIC TV, Annapurna Films
Branded Clients Director / Producer credits include: Edelman, Jazz at Lincoln Center, MacArthur Foundation, Hilton Worldwide, DIRECTV, Fast Company
Need to Know, Segment Producer, TV news magazine series on PBS:
Manufacturing Jobs in Alabama, broadcast, 2013
Saving Medicare, broadcast, 2012
American Voices: Khaled Hosseini, broadcast, 2012
Famine in Somalia, A Race Against Time to Save Lives, broadcast, 2011
Money Matters: Campaign Finance, broadcast, 2011
Making it in America: Immigrant Entrepreneurs, broadcast, 2012
A generation with Autism, Graduating into the Unknown, web, 2011
Jugaad Urbanism, Making it Work, web, 2011
Taylor Mac's Walk About, web, 2011
Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Cancer Trials, web, 2011
Girl Mathletes Run the Numbers, web, 2011
Eugene Hutz, Immigrant Punk, broadcast, 2011
Need to Know, Field & Associate Producer, TV news magazine series on PBS:
Crossing the Line at the Border: Dying to Get Back, broadcast, 2013, Emmy Award winner, Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story
Crossing the Line at the Border: Inside the Border Patrol, broadcast, 2012, Emmy Award nominee, Outstanding Investigative Journalism and Best Report
Crossing the Line at the Border, broadcast, 2012, Emmy Award nominee, Outstanding Investigative Journalism and Best Report in a News Magazine Show
Portraits of Hunger: Stories of Americans on Food Stamps, broadcast, 2012
Ballot Boxing: Voting Rights in Florida, broadcast, 2012
Camden, An impoverished City Struggles to Survive, broadcast, 2012
Losing the Safety Net, Adults with Autism, broadcast, 2011
When Care Runs Out: Aging Out with Disabilities, A Watchlist Investigation broadcast, 2011
Reshaping Somerville: The Fight against Childhood Obesity, broadcast, 2011
Toxic Law? Chemical Pollution & the EPA, A Watchlist Investigation broadcast, 2011
Moyers and Company, TV news and documentary series, Associate Producer:
The New Temp Economy, web, 2013
Organizing Workers to Bring Down Barriers, web, 2013
12th & Delaware, HBO feature documentary, Loki Films, Production Assistant, 2010
Part of Me Came Home, Director, 30 minute documentary, New York University, student grant recipient of National Academy of Television Arts and
Sciences, 2010
Cinematography credits include:
The Place That Makes Us, Director of Photography / Producer, feature documentary, Greene Fort Productions, DOC NYC FF official selection, 2020 & PBS
America Reframed broadcast, 2021
The North Face S18, Director of Photography, 2018
Miguelito, Additional Cinematography, feature documentary by Sam Zubrycki, Margaret Mead Documentary Film Festival: US Premiere, 2019
Brooklyn's Cover Girl, Director of Photography, short documentary, BRIC TV, Narratively, 2016
Moyers and Company, Director of Photography, TV news and documentary series:
The New Temp Economy, web, 2013
An Oasis in a Food Desert, web, 2013
Organizing Workers to Bring Down Barriers, web, 2013
From this Day Forward, Additional Cinematography, feature documentary, Hot Docs / AFI Doc / Full Frame official selection, Sweet Fern Productions, PBS, 2016
No Le Digas a Nadie/ Don't Tell Anyone, Additional Cinematography, feature documentary, Portret Films, SFFF premiere, PBS/POV
broadcast 2015 & Peabody Award winner, 2016
Additional Clients include: Ford Foundation, Dutch TV, Al Jazeera, Edelman, MacArthur Foundation, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Editor credits include:
Stand #withMalala Campaign videos, Malala Fund, Participant Media, editor, 2016-2017
American Teacher, Sundance Institute Feature Film documentary, Big Year Productions, contributing editor, festivals and theatrical release, NBC Broadcast 2011
The Texas Promise, feature documentary, Big Year Productions, assistant editor, Austin Film Festival Premiere, 2014
TBD, feature documentary on African American middle class, Okapi Productions, contributing editor, 2014
Glow Kids, documentary trailer, Moveable Type Media, editor, 2016
Narrative film credits include:
Gold for Fools, Producer / Assistant Director, Dir. Rene W. Solomon (USA, 13min), Nevada City Film Festival Premiere, 2020
Your Friend, Assistant Director, Dir. Anthony Nikolchev (USA, 16min), Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival Premiere, acquired by JASH
(online platform founded by Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim & Eric and Reggie Watts), 2019
Past Hope Now, Assistant Director, Dir. Anthony Nikolchev, three-part music film, Edmonton International Film Festival Premiere, 2017