Darren Durlach is a proud dad, mediocre drawer, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, director, and story consultant based in horse country just outside Baltimore.
He learned to tell stories by doing it every day as a photojournalist for television and newspapers, including The Boston Globe. That work took him from earthquake-devastated Haiti to the Boston Marathon bombings (he was covering the race that day) and taught him how to earn trust, recognize meaningful moments, and find the story in places others might overlook.
One of the defining achievements of his career was being named the NPPA Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year three years in a row—in 2009, 2010, and 2011. His journalism also earned multiple national Edward R. Murrow Awards, George Polk recognition, and contributed to Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting.
Since then, Darren has directed documentary series, independent films, television, and commercial work for networks and brands including PBS, NBC, Discovery, Nat Geo, Microsoft, Audi, Under Armour, and Callaway. His directing work has earned Emmy and James Beard recognition.
He co-founded Early Light Media in 2013 and has spent more than a two decades directing deeply human stories with a grounded, cinematic approach. His process is built around collaboration, discovery, and a simple belief: every shot, word, and moment should help us understand the character or move the story forward.
Teaching has always been one of the most rewarding parts of his career. He has taught visual storytelling in 18 states, guest lectured at Harvard Extension School, the Poynter Institute, Video Playground in Denmark and was an adjunct professor at University of Maryland. He loves working with passionate filmmakers and helping them see their stories—and their own potential—more clearly. His Youtube Channel has become a natural extension of his teaching career.
Today, Darren directs films and campaigns, consults with documentary filmmakers, and coaches creative professionals working to build clearer stories, stronger careers, and more meaningful work.
About Darren
Awards & Honors
Most Notable
1-Time James Beard Award Winner (2024)
23-Time Regional Emmy® Award Winner (Chesapeake & New England)
3-Time Consecutive NPPA National TV Photographer of the Year (2009–2011)
1-Time Telluride Mountainfilm Director's Choice Award Winner (2016)
1-Time George Polk Award Winner
6-Time National Edward R. Murrow Award Winner
Team Member Pulitzer Prize-Winning Coverage of Marathon Bombings (The Boston Globe) - I directed a feature, “5 Runners”, that was included in our entry.
Documentary, Television & Commercial Directing
2026 — James Beard Foundation Award Finalist — Travel Visual Media — "Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana" (Director/Executive Producer)
2024 — James Beard Foundation Award Winner — Docuseries Visual Media — "La Frontera with Pati Jinich, Season 2" (Director/Executive Producer)
2024 — Silver Telly Award Winner — Television: Series–Documentary — "La Frontera with Pati Jinich, Season 2" (Director/Executive Producer)
2024 — IACP Award Winner — Culinary Television Series — "Pati’s Mexican Table" (Director/Executive Producer)
2024 — Realscreen Awards Nominee — Lifestyle: Studio-Based Food Program — "Pati’s Mexican Table" (Director/Executive Producer)
2023 — Silver ADDY Award Winner — "Pump Up El Sabor" — Pati’s Mexican Table (Director)
2022 — Gold ADDY Award Winner — "A County Against COVID" — Charles County Health Department (Director)
2020 — Gold ADDY Award & Category Winner — Branded Content (Animated Short) — "Robby the Robot" / "We Heard You" (Director/Co-Producer)
2020 — ADDY Award Winner — Branded Content (Short Documentary) — "It's About Time" (Co-Director)
2020 — Fargo Film Festival Winner — Best Documentary Short — "R.A.W. Tuba" (Co-Director/Editor)
2020 — Gold ADDY Award Winner — "Robby the Robot" (Director)
2019 — Richard & Ellen Sandor Family Prize — Black Harvest Film Festival — "R.A.W. Tuba"
2019 — Grand Jury Award for Best Short Documentary — United Nations Association Film Festival — "R.A.W. Tuba"
2019 — Best Baltimore Short — Baltimore Black International Film Festival — "R.A.W. Tuba"
2017 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — Documentary — "Throw" (Co-Director/DP/Editor)
2017 — People’s Choice Award Winner — Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival — "Throw"
2017 — Silver ADDY Award Winner for Cinematography — American Advertising Federation — "Throw"
2017 — Webby Awards Nominee — Documentary: Branded Content — "Throw"
2016 — Director’s Choice Award Winner — Telluride Mountainfilm — "Throw" (Co-Director)
2016 — Special Jury Commendation — Port Townsend Film Festival — "Throw"
2016 — Vimeo Staff Pick — "Throw"
Journalism & Photojournalism
2014 — Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting — Staff Recognition — Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and ensuing manhunt (The Boston Globe)
2014 — National Edward R. Murrow Award — Breaking News — Boston Marathon bombing coverage (The Boston Globe Team)
2014 — National Headliner Award (First Place) — Online Videography
2013 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Arts/Entertainment Specialty Report — "Behind the Curtain: Act One of Barbara Quintiliani’s Story"
2013 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Video Journalist — Work Compilation
2013 — National Headliner Award (Third Place) — Online Videography — Composite: "Bob Ryan"
2012 — George Polk Award — Legal Reporting — The Boston Globe Spotlight investigation into Massachusetts drunk-driving acquittals
2012 — National Edward R. Murrow Award — Video Investigative Reporting — "Spotlight: Unreasonable Doubt"
2012 — National Edward R. Murrow Award — Writing — "Parents React to Boston School Assignments"
2012 — National Edward R. Murrow Award — Use of Video (The Boston Globe Team)
2012 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Outstanding Photographer — "Man With No Arms Throws Out First Pitch"
2012 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Outstanding Politics/Government Report — "Parents React to Boston School Assignments"
2012 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Outstanding Arts/Entertainment Report — "Penguin Love"
2012 — Boston/New England Emmy Award — Outstanding Feature News — "Dancing Cop, Still Traffic Jamming at 64"
2011 — NPPA Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year
2010 — NPPA Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year
2010 — NPPA Best of Photojournalism (First Place) — Spot News — "C'mon Son"
2010 — NPPA Best of Photojournalism (First Place) — 48 Hour Feature — "It Makes Sense Now"
2010 — NPPA Best of Photojournalism (First Place) — News Feature — "A Special Piece of History"
2010 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — "Soles for Souls"
2010 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — Feature News — "Sunflower Fields Forever"
2010 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — Editor: News, No Time Limit — "Blizzard Hell"
2009 — NPPA Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year
2009 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — Spot News — "Chaos in the Classroom"
2009 — Capital Emmy Award Winner — Military: Single Story/Series — "Making of a Marine"
2008 — b-roller of the YEAR — b-roll.net Awards
2007 — b-roller of the YEAR — b-roll.net Awards
2006–2008 — Associated Press Broadcasters Awards — Multiple journalism and photojournalism honors (WVIR-TV & WBFF)