Zach K. Johnson

Zach Johnson is a Midwest based writer/director that specializes in speculative & grounded fiction that glimpses the future & reconciles the past.

Inspired by Ballard, Kafka, and McCarthy, Zach's work delves into identity within socio-political systems, religious ideologies & the natural world. He utilizes a lean, kinetic style that balances visceral and cerebral impact--he prefers to ask more than answer in order to provoke & ignite conversation. He intersperses quiet, introspective moments with extreme violence as a means of transgression, often thrusting characters into radical, life-altering situations. Having garnered praise from Nicholl’s & Sundance for his skillful handling of structure and pacing, Zach recently collaborated on several short films, including SABORRRR! (2022) and DEAD FLESH (2023), both of which received national premieres at Fantastic Fest, LALIFF, NYLFF, Louisiana Film Prize, and many others.

Zach has written, produced, and edited a range of creative projects, including other short films, commercials, music videos (The Backseat Lovers' "Heavy"), and photography exhibits displayed world-wide, most recently during the 2023 Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway. His passion for storytelling knows no bounds: his next project, a sci-fi drama entitled ANEMOIA, shoots early 2024 in the Philippines.