Cole Swanson is a screenwriter and film director celebrated not only for his prowess in crafting narratives but also for his collaborations with industry titans. Cole's multiple award-winning and HBO award-nominated short film, Baby, kickstarted his ongoing and vibrant career. He has also lent his visionary touch to the likes of NIKE/Converse and Universal Music Group, sculpting visual work for renowned artists including James Blake, Selena Gomez, Lana del Rey, and crafting narrative-driven commercial work for Converse. Cole's creative, more formal educational journey culminated in 2023 when he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a focus on writing and directing. In pursuit of artistic mastery, Cole was selected as a director at England's National Film and Television School where his craft of directing and working with actors was further developed. Cole continues to cultivate a new genre he calls “New Wave Black Naturalism,” highlighted by Betty & Blue starring Keith David shot on 16mm film, a soulful tribute to jazz, and his upcoming films Bloom, a coming-of-age romance set against the stunning backdrop of Tuscany, and Afro Surf, a surf epic unfolding along the dynamic coastlines of Cape Town, South Africa.