Bio
Adam Hootnick is an award-winning filmmaker based in Austin, TX. His most recent documentary, What Carter Lost, was named one of the year's best docs by Sports Illustrated and was part of ESPN's Emmy-winning 30-for-30 series. The feature-length doc tells the story of one of the most talented high school football teams in history, the Dallas Carter Cowboys, who dominated the 1988 "Friday Night Lights" season in Texas, bringing triumph and tragedy to the Carter community.
In Destination: Team USA, Adam follows five Olympic hopefuls as they battle for spots on the US Olympic Team. Adam previously directed Son of the Congo, which had its world premiere at the South by Southwest film festival. The film tells the story of Serge Ibaka’s improbable journey from the violence of Congo to NBA stardom and back again, as Serge returns home hoping his basketball success can help rebuild a country and inspire a new generation to dream of a better life.
Adam’s other recent projects include the short documentary Judging Jewell (ESPN 30-for-30), rated among the top films in the history of the series by Rolling Stone Magazine. Adam also collaborated with ESPN to direct the short films Pro Day and The Outstanding Mind-Bending Synergy Machine. Adam’s first music video was the Webby Awards-honoree “Shoeshine” with Brooklyn rock band Black Taxi. His first feature, the critically acclaimed UNSETTLED, tells the story of several young Israelis from across the religious and political spectrum during the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. UNSETTLED won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival.
Adam's recent commercial and branded work includes projects with Serena Williams for Lincoln, Jeff Gordon for NASCAR, US Olympians for United Airlines, and US military veterans for Comcast, as well as projects for Facebook, Tylenol, Bank of America / Special Olympics, and the Clinton Foundation.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Adam began his career in news production at NBC and MSNBC before becoming a director/producer for MTV News & Documentaries, where Adam covered politics and international affairs.