Portfolio


Rachel Nederveld is an independent producer and audio storyteller based in Lafayette, LA. Her films have premiered at Sundance, TIFF, Tribeca, SXSW, and more and have been supported by Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation, SFFILM, Points North, IDFA, Sheffield Doc, Tribeca Film Institute, and many more.  She is a Sundance Producing Fellow and an advisory board member of the Documentary Producers Alliance. Her most recent feature, THE TUBA THIEVES, premiered at Sundance 2023 and will play on PBS’ Independent Lens in 2024. She recently created a 24 episode aural history for NPR affiliate KRVS and is working on an audio series about Nature in South Louisiana. Rachel has a BA in Studio Art and worked in indie music and arts nonprofits before turning to storytelling to push the boundaries on issues most important to her.

The Tuba Thieves


Trailer (1:34)
NYT Review

The Strongest


Branded Content Piece (1:39)

Renowned artist Martine Syms directed this piece to a poem by Nikky Finney for a Nike x LeBron James shoe release. There’s a lot of commercial / music video / branded content work I could choose from, but this is a favorite both because it is a powerful and beautiful piece of art and because it led to more collaborations with Martine and her editor Nicole Otero.

Beyond The Summit


Trailer (:31)
Full Film (33:15)
Canceled leases!

The film is about how elite athlete Kit Deslauriers used her unique skill set to become a citizen scientist in the fight against drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. The film was used in the successful lobbying of Biden to cancel oil leases in the area.

I produced this film right after moving back home. It inspired me to find local stories about people using their unique skillsets towards climate adaptation and mitigation in South Louisiana. The result is an oral documentary / podcast in late research phase. The team includes Lafayette’s Independent news organization The Current and consulting producer Theo Balcomb, who started NYT’s “The Daily”

Footwork


Trailer (:16)
Write up in France-Amerique

When I moved back home two years ago, I wanted to focus on helping locals tell local stories to combat parachute journalism. Drake LeBlanc is a creative force who I was eager to support in making his first personal film. The stories of Trail Riding and Black Cowboy communities have been told by many outside of Louisiana, not to mention outside the community itself. My work with him included countless mentor meetings and securing the #CreateLouisiana $25k grant. 

The film just premiered at BlackStar Film Festival, a marquee platform for BIPOC filmmakers and artists.

Writing Samples

 

Article written for leading 
independent producer newsletter
Selection from Documentary Producers Alliance Negotiating Contracts Guidelines
2014 Series for Vice about spending a month alone on a houseboat

Podcast Sample



“60 Years of Radio Acadie” is a commissioned oral history project from NPR affiliate KRVS to commemorate 60 years on the air.
Episode 21 “Fan Mail”