Documentary Filmmaker & CEO at Breakwater Studios; Academy Award Winner; Director of "The Queen of Basketball"; Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Live Event: $20,000 - $30,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Ben Proudfoot Biography

Ben Proudfoot is a two-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and the founder and CEO of Breakwater Studios, a Los Angeles-based production company specializing in short-form nonfiction storytelling. Proudfoot is recognized for his contributions to documentary film, particularly in the realm of short-form content. As a teenager, he competed as a sleight-of-hand magician, winning Canadian and international titles in magic competitions, and became the first international member of The Magic Castle Junior Program in Los Angeles. After being rejected from the University of Southern California's production program, Proudfoot attended the School of Cinematic Arts as a film history and theory student, where he developed creative partnerships that influenced his career.

Proudfoot's collaboration with The New York Times resulted in more than a dozen projects with significant viewership, including "A Concerto Is a Conversation," nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject at the Academy Awards, and "The Queen of Basketball," which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject. "The Queen of Basketball" highlights the story of basketball pioneer Lusia Harris and marked the first Oscar win for The New York Times. Proudfoot emphasizes the real-world impact of documentary storytelling, advocating for the recognition of underrepresented figures in sports history.

His second Academy Award came for "The Last Repair Shop," co-directed with Kris Bowers. The film documents a Los Angeles workshop providing free instruments and repairs to public school students and was distributed by Searchlight Pictures. After winning the Oscar, the documentary became a highly searched title on Disney+. Proudfoot and Bowers also launched a capital campaign to upgrade instrument repair facilities in the Los Angeles Unified School District featured in the film.

Proudfoot's work includes directing and producing "MINK!," which tells the story of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress and a key author of Title IX. The film was nominated for Outstanding Short Documentary at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards. His film "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht" received the Grand Prix in the Film category at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and earned additional honors in entertainment and film craft categories. Breakwater Studios' projects have been recognized by the Academy Awards, Emmys, Peabody Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards, James Beard Awards, Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and Tribeca Film Festival.

Proudfoot directed "The Eyes of Ghana," a feature-length documentary executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. The film explores the life of Chris Hesse, the personal cinematographer of Kwame Nkrumah, and examines Nkrumah's influence on African history. "The Eyes of Ghana" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Proudfoot has been named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 for his leadership in documentary filmmaking. He also founded the Vita Brevis Foundation, dedicated to advancing the art of short documentary film.

BOOK Ben Proudfoot

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/23/2026.

Ben Proudfoot Videos

Interview: Ben Proudfoot on elevating unsung women

Interview: Ben Proudfoot on elevating unsung women

Dec 15, 2022 -Filmmaker Ben Proudfoot is coming off an Oscar win for last year's documentary short film 'The Queen of Basketball'

  • How do I book Ben Proudfoot to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ben Proudfoot for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ben Proudfoot, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ben Proudfoot or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Ben Proudfoot

    Speaking fees for Ben Proudfoot, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ben Proudfoot are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ben Proudfoot, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Ben Proudfoot speak about?

    Ben Proudfoot is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Television & Film
  • Where does Ben Proudfoot travel from?

    Ben Proudfoot generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Ben Proudfoot’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ben Proudfoot for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ben Proudfoot for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ben Proudfoot or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ben Proudfoot is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ben Proudfoot for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Ben Proudfoot generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ruth E. Carter, Jeff Orlowski-Yang, Janelle Monáe, Gabrielle Union and David Magdael. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ben Proudfoot for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP