Yvonne Russo She/Her/Hers

Yvonne Russo is an award-winning director, producer, and writer, and a proud member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribal Nation. In 2025, she was nominated for a Humanitas Prize for her writing on Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae (ONYX Collective/Hulu). Her latest feature documentary, VIVA VERDI!, premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and HOT DOCS, offering an intimate look inside the retirement home for musicians founded by Giuseppe Verdi. She is also producing Kelly’s Bar alongside Casey Affleck and developing the animated children’s series Tiny Tot Nation. Russo’s career spans over two decades across film, television, and animation.

She has produced more than 30 episodes of National Geographic’s Most Amazing Photos, working with legendary photographers to capture adventurous and culturally rich stories worldwide. Her credits also include The Rescuers: Heroes of the Holocaust (NAACP Image Award nominee), Naturally Native (Sundance/TCM), and True Whisperers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers. She has worked in more than 17 countries and partnered with Warner Bros Television, Bad Robot, and Handmade Films on series in development. A dedicated mentor and thought leader, Russo co-designed and led a two-year program with the Royal Film Commission – Amman, Jordan and NYWIFT that trained Jordanian filmmakers in producing both narrative and documentary films. She is an active member of the Directors Guild of America, BAFTA, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and serves on the Board of New York Women in Film & Television. Honored with numerous awards and fellowships, Russo continues to champion underrepresented voices through stories that bridge cultures, histories, and generations.