About
I live on a boat, where the tides and movement of the water inspire my life and work. I’m drawn to personal stories that connect us and reveal the larger struggles we face together.
My award-winning films include Walls of Sand, In the Wake, Painted Nails (paintednails.com), and Looking For My Anchor (lookingformyanchor.com). Walls of Sand was a pioneering achievement, becoming the first contemporary feature film to stream online in 1998, showcasing the potential of the internet as a platform for cinema. It's now available on SlamDanceChannel.com
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My upcoming film, Looking For My Anchor (2025), is a deeply personal journey through grief aboard my small boat in a low-income maritime community, intertwined with the stories of three others navigating their own struggles in the San Francisco Bay.
Painted Nails, distributed by Kanopy, follows Van, a Vietnamese nail salon owner who becomes an advocate for safer working conditions. Hailed as “a nuanced and compelling story,” the film was showcased at numerous festivals and remains a highlight of my work
My films have been recognized at festivals like Slamdance, Mill Valley Film Festival, Cinequest, and the New Orleans Film Festival. Seeing Slavery received Best Short Documentary at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards and an Award of Merit at the Accolade Global Film Competition.
In addition to filmmaking, I’ve edited works like Animation Outlaws by Kat Alioshin, which premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and Logic Paralyzes The Heart by Lynn Hershman, which debuted at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
I’ve also collaborated with organizations like Free the Slaves and Tangible Hope to create stories that inspire action.
Above all, I believe in the power of stories to connect us, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful change.
Films
Documentary
Narrative
Commissioned
Edited
Looking For My Anchor (Writer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan - 2025 Feature Documentary)
All Our Children United - Marin City-Sausalito Tunnel Art Project - (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan 2024)
Logic Paralyzes The Heart (Editor: Erica Jordan, Director: Lynn Hershman - 2022) debuted at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia
Shadow Stalker (Editor: Erica Jordan, Director: Lynn Hershman, - 2020) installation at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and received the Prix Ars Electronica Golden Nica distinguished mention.
Making of Three Decembers (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan 2020, behind the scenes of Opera San Jose productions)
Ways Of The Rising Women (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan 2020)
Animation Outlaws (Editor: Erica Jordan, Director: by Kat Alioshin - 2019 Feature Documentary) distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Seeing Slavery (Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan - 2018 - Short Documentary)
Center for Domestic Peace (Commissioned - Co-Producer/Director Erica Jordan Editor: Erica Jordan 2017)
Painted Nails (Co-Producer, Director: Erica Jordan, Editor: Erica Jordan 2016 - feature documentary) distributor: Kanopy
In Plain Sight (Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan - 2014 - Feature Documentary)
Seed to Sprout (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan 2012 - Three short films for for award-winning choreographer Amara Tabor-Smith -- youth dance/film/theater collaboration.
Our Daily Bread (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan 2011 - Several short films for award-winning choreographer Amara Tabor-Smith, screened at CounterPulse, SF
Any Sunday at Rhythm and Motion (Commissioned - Producer/Director/Editor: Erica Jordan - 2009 – 7 min. commissioned documentary)
Saving Malcolm X (Director: Erica Jordan - 2005 - 30 min. documentary)
Fostering Art (Commissioned - Director: Erica Jordan - 2004 - 15 min. short documentary)
In the Wake (Writer/Director: Erica Jordan - 2001 - 94 min. dramatic feature)
Ida McCray: Families With A Future (Commissioned - Directed: Erica Jordan - 2001 - 6 min. documentary) Produced for Oxygen TV Channel.
Glenda Hope: The Tender Champ (Commissioned - Director: Erica Jordan - 2001 - 6 min. documentary) Produced for Oxygen TV Channel
Tales from the Heart (Director: Erica Jordan - 1998 - 37 min. dramatic shorts series)
Walls of Sand (Director: Erica Jordan 1995 - 110 min. dramatic feature) distributor: Slamdance Channel
A Different Shade of Blue (Director: Erica Jordan - 1991 12 min. dramatic short)
Dance for One (Director: Erica Jordan - 1989 - 11 min. dramatic short)