Filmmaker | Storyteller | Focused on Community, Culture and Change
San Francisco Bay Area
JJ Islas setting up a shot for the short film,
STRANGE REMEDY (2025)
WORK
🎥 🎬 🎞️
THE BAD GIRLS RETREAT
Join Anumeha "Anu" Gupta as she takes a group of "Bad Girls" towards spiritual enlightenment at the beautiful Mount Madonna Retreat
Full Version
Social Media Version
altadena benefit concert
The Altadena Benefit Concert brought the generous Bay Area community together to support individuals, families, and communities that are recovering from the devastating Eaton fires that occurred on January 2025
Full Version
Social Media Version
oye latinx youth conference
Check out this year’s OYE Latinx Youth Conference held at Cañada College in Redwood City, California. This year's OYE theme is, “Together We Rise/ Juntos Avanzamos”
Full Version
Social Media Version
strange remedy
A BraveMaker Academy short film about strangers finding healing in mysterious roomsDirector of Photography &
Post Production Supervisor
firehouse art collective
The Firehouse Art Collective 20th Anniversary Celebration Featuring Art Director Tom Franco
Full Version
Social Media Version
San Mateo County Summer Public Service Career Fair
A highlight of the 2024 County of San Mateo Summer Public Service Career Fair
Full Version
Social Media Version
World War II: From the Frontlines
Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this Netflix Original Docuseries brings WWII to life like never beforeArchival Research Assistant
Behind the scenes of INFECTIOUS THEATRE
A Behind the Scenes highlight of BraveMaker Academy's short film, INFECTIOUS THEATRE (2024)
Mennonite Central Committee
The West Coast Mennonite Central Committee does global relief, development, and peace work in over 57 countries from their headquarters in Reedley, California
The Last Haven: Episode 1
The Closing of Hawes Elementary
Hawes Elementary, a school that was around for 62 years and whose student body was comprised of over 92% Latino students, was well on its way to becoming one of the top scoring schools in the district when it closed its doors on May 31st, 2019 due to "lack of enrollment"
de anza college's la voz
flea market highlight
A short highlight of De Anza College's monthly Flea Market reported by Xitlaly MartinezWinner of two JACC Journalism Awards
Headshot by Isolde Aburabi
© 2025 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.
El JJ
That's a wrap! JJ Islas, B-Camera Operator
Mandon Durazo, and Production Assistant
Harpreet Kaur Nijjer at the
BAD GIRLS RETREAT (2025)
JJ Islas is a Bay Area–based filmmaker and content producer with over a decade of experience bringing meaningful stories to the screen. His work blends a cinematic eye with a documentary sensibility, shaped by close collaborations with communities and organizations striving for impact. Trained across all phases of production at Farallon Films under the direction of Academy Award–winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki, JJ honed his craft with a focus on authentic, human-centered storytelling.Across every project, he approaches his work with intention, whether directing short films, producing digital content, or creating visual campaigns that resonate across communities. His style is thoughtful, grounded, and purposeful, reflecting a commitment to stories that matter and to the people behind them.
JJ Islas doing what it takes to get the shot at the
OYE LATINX YOUTH CONFERENCE (2025)
As a screenwriter, producer, director, cinematographer and editor, JJ shapes every stage of a project, from story to screen. As a Remastering Supervisor of classic films, JJ edits, color corrects and mixes sound, restoring films to modern standards, bringing both technical precision and artistic vision to each work.Guided by purpose and authenticity, his films connect, inspire, and leave a lasting impression. So if you're after another cookie-cutter corporate video, keep scrolling. But if you're looking for something with soul and purpose, let’s talk.
© 2025 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 El JJ Films. All Rights Reserved.