Biography

Jonas Riley Durnell (born November 22, 2006) is an American film director, writer, cinematographer, editor, composer, producer and actor. He grew up moving back and forth between Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Warsaw, Indiana. During this time, Durnell would sketch comics, short stories, and even novellas. His mother, a graphic designer, and his father, a musician, encouraged his artistic spirit. In November of 2016, he created a YouTube channel entitled JonasDuder, where he created short video content until May of 2019. Durnell went on to direct his first short film, 'Detective Andrew: Da Movie', which premiered on July 5, 2020. Durnell attended Canterbury High School in 2021, where he joined the school's 'Arts Academy'. Over the next several years, he completed three short films for the program: 'Jump Across', 'The Weird Weekend' and 'The Fracture'. In 2024, he wrote, directed, edited and shot the noir featurette 'Dressed For Crime'. Durnell was then admitted into the School of Filmmaking at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2025. That year, he turned out the original short films 'Biophilia', 'Last Summer', and 'Absence', as well as his UNCSA fall short film 'Frisbee in the Rain'.