Julianne Sato-Parker

Julianne Sato-Parker is a Los Angeles–based documentary director and producer working across both feature films and high-end branded nonfiction. She is the founder of Hamako Films, a full-service production company creating work at the intersection of art and nonfiction storytelling, with a focus on visually sophisticated, character-driven stories. Her work is often drawn to the relationship between people and the natural world. She is currently directing and producing Symphony of Silence, a feature documentary about protecting the quiet of the world’s remaining wild places. The film is supported by The North Face and the Redford Center, with plans for a festival release in early 2027. She is also in production on a second feature documentary alongside Academy Award–nominated director Skye Fitzgerald, capturing stories on the frontlines of climate change around the globe. Julianne previously directed and produced two feature documentaries: Solving for Zero (Gates Ventures/Wondrium), awarded Best Documentary in Science & Technology by the Association for International Broadcasting, and Big Dreams in Umatilla (PBS/OPB). Her broader body of work includes docuseries for HBO Max/Magnolia Network, and branded documentary work for clients including Google, Microsoft, Nike, and Pearson Education, as well as short-form documentaries for TIME, NBC, and TED. Through Hamako Films, she has produced a wide range of nonfiction storytelling, including a six-part series for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on climate solutions across Oregon, and ongoing collaborations with the American Journalism Project, creating films that highlight the impact and importance of local journalism across the United States. Julianne holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from the University of Pittsburgh, and has also spent several years reporting on and writing a book about the Chinook Indian Nation’s fight for federal recognition.