About
Elaine McMillion Sheldon is an Academy Award-nominated, Peabody-winning, and two-time Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker from Logan County, West Virginia. Her films explore life in Appalachia through personal and political lenses, covering topics such as coal’s cultural legacy, the opioid crisis, rural deindustrialization, incarceration, and environmental justice. Her latest feature documentary, KING COAL, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was named a New York Times Critics’ Pick and one of the year’s best documentaries by Esquire and Marie Claire. The film screened at over 40 international festivals, had a 50-city theatrical run, and aired nationally on PBS’ POV in 2024.
Filmography
Beat Down2024 · Producer
Troublesome Creek2023 · Additional Camera, Co-Producer
King Coal2023 · Writer, Director, Producer, Co-Editor, Additional Camera, Boom Operator
Tutwiler2019 · Producer, Director, Editor, Director of Photography
Coal's Deadly Dust2019 · Writer, Director, Producer
Recovery Boys2018 · Producer, Director
Phantom Cowboys2018 · Additional Photography
11/8/162017 · Director
Heroin(e)2017 · Director, Producer
TIMBERLINE2017 · Director
West Virginia, Still Home2013 · Editor, Producer, Director
The Elders2013 · Production Coordinator