top of page
Oliver0525 1 2 1_websize.jpg
Awards & Nominations

Places We Knew

- LA Asian Film Festival | WINNER Best Director & Best Ensemble 2024

- Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

- Indy Shorts International Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

- Japan Film Festival Los Angeles | Official Selection 2024

- Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

- Tokyo International Short Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

- Hollywood ShortsFest | Honorable Mention 2024

Thread Tension

- Big Fridge International Film Festival | WINNER Best Horror Short 2024

- Porto Femme International Film Festival | WINNER Best Student Film Award 2024

- British Shorts | Official Selection Berlin 2024

- Vienna Shorts | Official Selection 2024

- Kyiv International Short Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

- TOHorror Fantastic Film Fest | Official Selection 2024

Oliver William Staton is an award-winning Japanese American filmmaker based in Northwest Indiana known for crafting emotionally textured and visually compelling narratives. With a deep understanding of storytelling and a knack for leading creative teams, Oliver is a dynamic director, writer, and producer.

Before transitioning to filmmaking, Oliver earned Bachelor's & Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and worked at General Electric and Tesla.These experiences honed his problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and capacity to execute ambitious projects under tight deadlines - qualities he now applies to the creative process. 

Oliver trained formally at the London Film School, where he earned an MA in Filmmaking. His thesis film, Places We Knew, premiered at an Academy Award-qualifying festival and serves as a proof of concept for a feature-length project. The film is a personal exploration of cultural identity, told through a Japanese American lens, and reflects his commitment to creating stories with universal emotional impact.

As a director, Oliver is known for his collaborative approach and ability to inspire confidence in cast and crew, ensuring every project is executed with clarity and vision. His portfolio spans narrative shorts, commercial content, and educational projects, showcasing versatility and the ability to deliver on creative briefs while staying on time and within budget.

Oliver's upcoming short film, Big Steps, dives into themes of existential discontent and the pursuit of fulfillment, using humor and metaphor to explore the human condition. Stay tuned!

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Vimeo
bottom of page