Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa) is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Waters Media, where her work spans directing, producing, and casting. Growing up in Oklahoma has shaped her cross-cultural storytelling, rooted in Indigenous experiences and community collaboration. She has been recognized on prestigious lists, including Forbes 30 Under 30  and Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces, and she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Lindy Waters III Foundation, where she is dedicated to serving Native youth and Indigenous communities.

Her work has been showcased at esteemed festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, and Hot Docs. Her Academy Award-qualifying short documentary film, Tiger, received the Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, along with multiple festival honors.

She has contributed to renowned films and television series, including The Lowdown, Reservation Dogs, and Fancy Dance, as the youngest Indigenous casting director in the industry. Her achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Princess Grace Film Honoraria Award, the New York Foundation of the Arts - Anonymous Was a Woman Environmental Art Grant, and the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation LIFT Award.

In 2024, her short documentary, ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ (Meet Me at the Creek), garnered significant acclaim, receiving First Place at the UBUNTU Climate Arts & Storytelling Showcase and recognition as a Best Mini-Doc Top 10 Finalist at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

Loren’s storytelling continues to shape a vibrant and inclusive future through her work.

Photo by Ryan RedCorn