I’m Steven Middleton, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, educator, and storyteller based in Kentucky. For nearly two decades, I’ve been telling stories rooted in the people, places, history, and culture of Kentucky and Appalachia.

My work is driven by a simple belief: every place has a story worth telling, and the most meaningful stories are often found in the people who call that place home. Through documentary film and video production, I strive to preserve those stories while presenting them in a way that connects with audiences far beyond the communities where they began.

Over the years, I’ve produced and directed nearly two dozen documentaries and numerous other media projects. My films have screened at festivals, received awards and recognition, and aired through PBS and other broadcast outlets. Recent projects have taken me from Kentucky’s mountains and small communities to stories of music, tradition, history, and the people working to preserve them.

Among my work is From the Cowboy’s Boot Heel, a documentary exploring the life and career of musician Rob McNurlin. The film’s festival recognition and broadcast exposure have been especially rewarding not simply because of the accolades, but because they have allowed a uniquely Kentucky story to reach a much larger audience.

I’m also the creator of Commonwealth Curiosities, a documentary series exploring the fascinating people, places, traditions, and stories that make Kentucky what it is. Whether I’m documenting a community, a musician, a historic tradition, or a story that might otherwise be overlooked, my goal remains the same: to create honest, compelling films that give a voice to the people and places that deserve to be remembered.

In addition to filmmaking, I serve as a media educator, sharing my experience in media production, storytelling, and communication with the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers.

State Run Media Productions is ultimately about more than making videos. It’s about telling stories that matter, preserving a sense of place, and bringing Kentucky and Appalachian voices to audiences everywhere.