Jacob Robert van Winkle
Jacob Robert van Winkle is a producer, director, and multi-hyphenate artist based in New York City. With extensive experience in camera work, production, and leadership, Jacob’s dedication to filmmaking is demonstrated through their commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and creative storytelling.
As the creative force behind Who's Cookin' Productions, Jacob develops narrative, editorial, educational, and commercial projects. In addition to their production work, Jacob is deeply involved in film programming, research, and activism. They founded NYOFF, a non-profit dedicated to supporting local filmmakers working on no-budget to mid-budget projects, with a special focus on uplifting the works of local artists, as well as queer, BIPOC, and women filmmakers.
In 2024, Jacob served as the Director of Programming for MIX NYC, a legendary festival at the forefront of queer experimental cinema. Their industry experience spans major festivals, including a recent role as Operations Manager at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where they were instrumental in executing one of the world’s most renowned independent film events.
Jacob is an expert in strategic communications and media impact, with a master’s-level background in research. In research, they have contributed to projects on media influence, election communications, nonprofit strategy, and climate storytelling. Their current research examines the effectiveness of different types of climate messaging in short-form digital content, integrating film, advocacy, and strategic communications to drive engagement and action.
As a non-binary and queer filmmaker, Jacob’s personal journey is reflected in their commitment to championing diverse voices and stories. They are currently developing new film projects while continuing to research, program for film festivals, and collaborate with filmmakers, researchers, and artists across multiple industries.