Denise DiIanni
Media Consultant / Writer
Denise DiIanni is a seasoned media executive with expertise spanning the creative, production, and business aspects of documentary filmmaking. She is widely recognized as an innovative leader and a knowledgeable media consultant who seamlessly integrates creativity with practical expertise. DiIanni is a strategic thinker, a well-respected collaborator, and a polished communicator
In addition to her consulting work, DiIanni is a nationally published essayist, and leads workshops on documentary storytelling. She also serves as a judge for prestigious award programs such as the Emmys, the DuPonts, the Peabodys, and various film festivals, both domestic and international.
As a member of WGA, NATAS, WIFV and other professional organizations, she's contributed to the industry by leading workshops and mentoring emerging filmmakers to help foster the next generation of storytellers.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Throughout her distinguished career, DiIanni’s film work has encompassed diverse subjects, including science, history, education, public affairs, and civics. She's led documentary series, studio productions, and public affairs programs, among other notable projects.
As Senior Executive in Charge of Research and Development for National Programming at WGBH, DiIanni spearheaded innovative projects for PBS. Among her many acclaimed national productions are a broadcast town hall on gun violence, a limited series exploring the impact of race within six geographically diverse U.S. communities, a four-part series on the history of mental illness, and a cross-platform series examining work in America. She also created a debate program dedicated to fostering civil dialogue on the most pressing issues confronting the nation.
As Executive in Charge of WGBH Boston Media Productions, DiIanni managed a multimillion-dollar budget, led a team of approximately thirty, and oversaw 150 hours of programming annually. Under her leadership, the unit underwent a dramatic transformation, evolving from an underperforming department into one of PBS’s most successful producers of local content. During her tenure, the department earned an extraordinary number of awards—more than any other local PBS station—including over 100 regional Emmys, multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Associated Press Awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Award, and numerous other honors.
DiIanni is also an accomplished writer, producer, and director. During her tenure with the NOVA Science Unit, she authored multiple hour-long documentaries and executive-produced a celebrated international natural history series. Notably, one NOVA documentary—her award-winning film on the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study—helped prompt a long-overdue presidential apology to the study’s subjects.
SELECT FILMOGRAPHY
Future of Work - (3 episodes) Executive Producer - link
Mysteries of Mental Illness (4 episodes)- Executive Producer - link
Third Rail - (8 episodes) Creator, Executive Producer - link
Point Taken - (10 episodes) Creator, Executive Producer
I'll Have What Phil's Having (8 episodes)- Co-Executive Producer
Sacred Journeys - (6 episodes) Co-Executive Producer
America After Ferguson - Executive Producer
America After Charleston - Executive Producer
Eye On Education - Creator, Executive Producer
Wild Europe - (6 episodes) Writer, US Executive Producer
Fine Art of Faking It - Writer, Producer, Director - link
The Big Spill - Writer, Producer, Director
The Deadly Deception - Writer, Producer, Director - link
What's New About Menopause? - Writer, Producer, Director
Kidnapped by UFO? - Writer, Producer, Director
The Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius - Writer, Producer, Director
ESSAYS
New York Times
Modern Love
February 7, 2025
Pangryus
Things Will Not Stay Put
July 25th, 2023
Literary Mama
Eruptions
September/October 2023
Gemini Magazine
A Man Locks His Wife in the Trunk
March 2025