About

Xan Aranda is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and showrunner who has worked with HBO, Netflix, Amazon, and AppleTV. She recently adapted a bestselling Chilean novel into a drama series for Exile Studios in Mexico City. Xan is the showrunner and Co-Executive Producer of Netflix’s My Love, an award-winning series of feature-length narrative documentaries filmed in six countries. It was named among the best of 2021 by IndieWire.

Xan is an Executive Producer of HBO's Room 104, where an episode she envisioned and shepherded was named among The Best of 2017 by The Hollywood Reporter (Ten Favorite Episodes of 2017), The New York Times (Memorable TV Episodes of 2017), and Vox (Best 35 Episodes of 2017); and inspired a critic to feel “hopeful about the future of television.”

Ms. Aranda’s Emmy nomination was for Transparent: This Is Me on Amazon, for which she served as Producer and Co-Executive Producer.

Ms. Aranda co-produced Blue Jay, starring Sarah Paulson, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and sold to Netflix.

After its world premiere at New York Film Festival and Lincoln Center, Xan's directorial debut Andrew Bird: Fever Year screened in 90+ festivals, and took home nine awards.

Music videos Xan directed for Grammy-nominee Neko Case are positively reviewed by Rolling Stone, Billboard, Spin, Pitchfork, Paste, StereoGum, and numerous others.

Xan is a producer of the award-winning Kartemquin Films (Hoop Dreams) release Milking the Rhino, which filmed in Kenya and Namibia and screened on five continents.

“There is no ‘foot in the door.’ You’re the door.”
Xan is a popular speaker and consultant. She’s been a guest of SXSW, HBO, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, BAFTA, Film Independent and countless film schools.

As the founder and Executive Director of the Chicago Short Film Brigade, Xan curated and hosted screenings of international short films from 2003-2012. The Sundance Institute recruited her for their ShortsLab in 2011.

She has served on competition juries and grant panels across the U.S.

Member:
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Producers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
Film Fatales