Jim harnesses more than 20 years as a filmmaker to deliver a mastery of the production process—crafting powerful, award-winning content from development to distribution.

DIRECTOR | CAMERA | EDITOR | WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHER

Jim Aikman is an award winning documentary filmmaker who’s been making short and feature length films for more than 20 years. His work in sports, natural science and history draws from diverse subjects around the world, from large scale productions to scrappy grassroots.

Jim’s greatest strength is recognizing the raw, emotive power of a moment and shaping it through the science and structure of modern documentary storytelling. With investigative curiosity, he dives deep into complex topics to steward ideas from concept development to final delivery. His film work spans a wide diversity of subjects — from natural history and wildlife, to sports, adventure, and biographical — bridging historical content and current events with focus and precision. Dedicated to accountability, originality and leadership, Jim stands out in a chaotic industry where timing is everything.

Since 2016, he has led Bedrock Film Works, a full-service production company that has developed and delivered dozens of films and campaigns for leading brands and distributors. In 2021, he founded The Lookout, a collaborative studio space in Portland, Oregon. Jim is also a photographer, podcaster, writer, and adventurer.

Jim has done his 10,000 hours at every stage of the production process, making him a seasoned director with a colorful portfolio. His body of work includes natural science documentaries for National Geographic, historical climbing films for Eddie Bauer, wildlife stories across southern Africa, podcast series for REI, and commercial campaigns for global brands. He is always looking for the next big project!

CONTACT TODAY TO COLLABORATE

“Watching Jim in action was an education in technical skill and humanistic investment. He is a master at climbing into the minds and hearts of those of us at the other end of his lens.”

-TOM HORNBEIN MD
EVEREST PIONEER

The Cutting Edge Podcast
Hosted and Produced by Jim Aikman

Creating documentaries at the confluence of the human spirit and the natural world.

University of Michigan (‘08)
-Film Studies (BA)
-English Literature (BA)
Banff Adventure Filmmaking Workshop (2011)

Blackbird Writing Working (2020)
Jim received a formal education in the art of storytelling, with degrees in Film and English Literature from the University of Michigan where he cultivated a deep understanding of narrative theory to craft thoughtful, authentic stories about real characters.
Jim loves to give back to his filmmaking community by leading workshops, emceeing film festivals, and mentoring young filmmakers. He is also on the board of the Gorge Impact Film Festival.
He is a member of the International Documentary Association, the Oregon Media Production Association, the Internet Movie Database, the American Alpine Club, and listed in Source Oregon.
2025
Snail Hunters — Director
Recovery Ride — Director
One Inch From Flying — Co-Director, Producer, Editor
The Cutting Edge Podcast — Host, Writer
World War Wild (in progress) — Director
Dear Dad (in progress) — Editor
2024
Jamie Logan: All In — Director
The Puzzle — Editor
The Cutting Edge Podcast — Host, Writer
2023
Red Rock Revolution — Director
Transcendence — Producer, Director of Photography
The Second Seven — Co-Director
A Fine Line — Editor
The Meaningless Pursuit of Snow — Editor
2022
Annapurna '78 — Director
Gila Wild — Editor
The Seekers — Editor
2021
Like a River — Director
Link Sar — Producer, Editor
What's in a Name? — Producer, Editor
2020
An Imperfect Advocate — Director
Miss Dish and the Volcano — Director of Photography
Wildfire: Season Two Podcast — Co-Host, Writer
2019
Lost Temple of the Inca — Director
Winter's Edge — Producer, Director of Photography, Editor
Aniakchak — Producer, Editor
Wildfire Podcast — Co-Host, Writer
2018
Hold Fast — Director
Lightner — Director, Director of Photography
The Moment (Virtual Reality Series) — Co-Director
2017
Uncle Billy — Director
The Mile Ground — Director
Heart of the Valley — Co-Director
Engaging the Curve — Producer, Editor
Above the Fray — Producer, Director of Photography, Editor
2016
Seven Summits — Director
Alpinists at Large — Co-Director
Martin's Boat — Editor
The Man Behind the Mask — Editor
2015
Fast & Light — Director
2014
Metanoia — Director, Editor, Writer
Valley Uprising — Production Assistant
Makalu — Editor
2013
High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 — Co-Director, Editor
High Tension — Editor
Offwidth Outlaw — Camera, Editor
The Shiver Bivvy — Director, Camera
2012
The Kyrgyzstan Project — Co-Director, Editor
The Forever War — Director, Camera, Editor
2011
Happy Tide — Director, Camera, Editor
2010
The Swiss Machine — Editor
2009
The First Ascent Series — Co-Producer, Editor, Camera
2008
The Sharp End — Production Assistant
The Committed — Director
2004
Reverie — Co-Director
GRAND PRIZE
Bilboa International Film Festival | Domzale Mountain Film Festival | Ladek Mountain Film Festival | Diablaret International Alpine Film Festival
BEST CLIMBING FILM
Torello Mountain Film Festival | Kendall Mountain Film Festival | New Zealand International Mountain Film Festival | Mt Hood Independent Film Festival | Boulder Adventure Film Festival | Ladek Mountain Film Festival
JURY’S AWARD
Vancouver International Film Festival
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
BendFilm Festival | Trento Mountain Film Festival | Zakopane Film Festival | East Lansing Film Festival
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Oregon Documentary Film Festival
BEST SHORT FILM
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival | New Hampshire Film Festival
BEST CONSERVATION FILM
Lookout Wild Film Festival
BEST COLORADO FILM
Boulder International Film Festival
EMMY NOMINATIONS
2020, 2022

DIRECTOR

As a director, Jim makes creative decisions with poise and precision. He's done his ten thousand hours behind the camera, editing and producing to reach a thorough understanding of the entire production process, combining those myriad forces on thoughtful, well crafted stories that need to be told.

WRITER

As a writer, Jim has crafted feature documentaries, written and hosted podcast series, punched up narrative screenplays, and developed creative strategy for industry leaders.

CINEMATOGRAPHER

As a camera operator, Jim has captured memorable imagery from all over the world, often working in challenging environments and edgy, fast moving subjects.

EDITOR

As an editor, he’s worked with elite directors and production companies, often starting with large bodies of archival material, blending cutting edge modern cinematography with historical assets.

Full Service Production

Jim also offers full production services through Bedrock Film Works, a cornerstone of the grassroots documentary community and cutting edge facilitator of commercial content.