Ben Willis is a filmmaker, educator, and documentary producer with more than fifteen years of experience creating films that explore people, communities, social & environmental issues, history, agriculture, and the natural world.

He began his career in 2009 documenting disappearing folk art traditions across the American Southwest before joining the documentary production company Magic Stone Productions, where he contributed to the feature documentaries Best Worst Movie and The American Scream. He later worked in independent narrative film production throughout New York and Connecticut as an assistant director on numerous feature films and short films, gaining experience in every stage of the filmmaking process.

Today, Ben serves as a multimedia journalist and producer for Across The Fence, the nation's longest-running daily farm and home television program. His work focuses on short-form documentary storytelling, producing films that highlight Vermont's people, agriculture, environment, and rural communities.

Alongside his filmmaking career, education has remained a central part of his work. Since 2011, Ben has developed and led documentary filmmaking programs for high school and college students, helping young filmmakers create stories that engage with history, civic life, science, and local communities. His educational work has included leadership roles with the Civic Life Project, building an award-winning film program at The Marvelwood School, teaching college media production courses, and mentoring students through community documentary initiatives.

His work has been recognized by organizations including the National Association of Secretaries of State, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and IMAX, which selected him as one of five educators nationwide for its In Focus fellowship.

Whether producing a documentary, collaborating with educators, or helping organizations share their mission, Ben brings the same philosophy to every project: listen carefully, build trust, and let authentic stories lead the way.