Ines Sommer is a Chicago-based filmmaker, arts administrator, and educator, whose genre-crossing projects have explored topics ranging from the environment to the arts, feminism, history, and politics. She has directed character-driven documentaries and experimental shorts along with installations, video essays, and a hybrid fiction/doc feature.
Ines' recent award-winning documentary Seasons of Change on Henry's Farm follows Midwest organic farmer Henry Brockman as he grapples with the impact of a changing climate on his family farm. Her exploration of environmental issues continues with The Hills, her current work-in-progress about the toxic legacy of industry on Chicago's Southeast Side. Previous documentaries include the MacArthur Foundation-funded Count Me In, which
aired on PBS stations across the nation in 2016; and the human rights documentary Beneath the Blindfold.
Ines' recent award-winning documentary Seasons of Change on Henry's Farm follows Midwest organic farmer Henry Brockman as he grapples with the impact of a changing climate on his family farm. Her exploration of environmental issues continues with The Hills, her current work-in-progress about the toxic legacy of industry on Chicago's Southeast Side. Previous documentaries include the MacArthur Foundation-funded Count Me In, which
aired on PBS stations across the nation in 2016; and the human rights documentary Beneath the Blindfold.
Ines has also produced documentaries about the arts, ranging from Pamela Sherrod Anderson's award-winning The Curators of Dixon School to Window Dressing, which explores sculptor Diane Simpson's creative process.
In addition to producing her own projects, Ines has frequently collaborated with other filmmakers as a cinematographer and her camerawork has been featured in award-winning documentaries, including many projects by Chicago-based Kartemquin Films (Terra Incognita: Mapping Stem Cell Research; In the Family; Hard Earned; and other titles) and The Kindling Group (No Small Matter; @home; The Calling; A Doula Story). A partial list of camera credits can be found at Ines' IMDb listing.
Ines' company Sommer Filmworks LLC produces commissioned videos and documentaries for non-profits, arts organizations, faith groups, schools, and other clients.
In addition to producing her own projects, Ines has frequently collaborated with other filmmakers as a cinematographer and her camerawork has been featured in award-winning documentaries, including many projects by Chicago-based Kartemquin Films (Terra Incognita: Mapping Stem Cell Research; In the Family; Hard Earned; and other titles) and The Kindling Group (No Small Matter; @home; The Calling; A Doula Story). A partial list of camera credits can be found at Ines' IMDb listing.
Ines' company Sommer Filmworks LLC produces commissioned videos and documentaries for non-profits, arts organizations, faith groups, schools, and other clients.
Besides making films, Ines has a longstanding interest in engaging audiences with independent cinema and has been deeply involved in Chicago's non-profit media arts community, advocating for and supporting Midwest documentary filmmakers. She has served on the Board of Directors of Chicago Filmmakers and IFP Chicago and has worked extensively as an arts administrator, curator, and festival director. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Percolator Films, a 501(c)3 non-profit media arts organization that produces documentaries and presents film events, series, and festivals. In 2019, Ines founded Doc Chicago, a mini-conference that brings regional documentary filmmakers together to learn, connect, and exchange ideas. The 2021 Doc Chicago conference was presented in collaboration with the Chicago Film Office and unfolded as a multi-day, hybrid event that included online programming along with an in-person gathering at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Chicago's alt-weekly New City has included Ines three times on the annual Film 50 list that highlights "50 individuals who shape Chicago's film scene." She currently teaches at Northwestern University, where she serves as the Associate Director of the MFA in Documentary Media program.
Chicago's alt-weekly New City has included Ines three times on the annual Film 50 list that highlights "50 individuals who shape Chicago's film scene." She currently teaches at Northwestern University, where she serves as the Associate Director of the MFA in Documentary Media program.
