Daniel Nearing was appointed as the inaugural Filmmaker in Residence for the City of Chicago in 2016, a prestigious honor that recognized his outstanding contributions to the film industry. Additionally, he was named the Chicagoan of the Year for film in 2017 by The Chicago Tribune, a testament to his dedication and passion for filmmaking.
His feature film "Hogtown", released in 2016, garnered widespread critical acclaim and was included on Ben Kenigsberg's list of the 10 Best Films of 2016 in The New York Times. Bill Stamets of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film, calling it "the most original film made in Chicago about Chicago to date". The Chicago Reader named "Hogtown" the best film set in Chicago and the best film made in Chicago, period, in 2015.
Kenigsberg of The New York Times praised Nearing's unique filmmaking style, stating that he has "carved out an original and boldly unfashionable niche". The film was also recognized with several awards, including Best Feature Film at the 2015 International Black Film Festival in Nashville, Best Film in a Fine Arts Discipline at the 30th Black International Cinema Berlin, Best Picture at the 2015 Los Angeles Black Film Festival, and winner of the 2015 Independent Film Playoff.
Nearing's other notable work includes "Chicago Heights", a 2010 adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, which was praised by Roger Ebert as "brilliant and beautiful" and included on his list of Best Art Films in 2010. The film is a thought-provoking observation on exurban and small town life, presented in a "period-less" style.
As a producer, director, writer, and editor, Nearing has worked on numerous films for international networks, covering a wide range of subjects. His documentary subjects have included juvenile homicide, the longest bridge in the world over ice-forming waters, and Russians playing in the National Hockey League.
Nearing is currently working on his latest project, "Sister Carrie", a epic love story set in 1909 Chicago, Montréal, and Paris, which is expected to be completed in 2022. Throughout his career, Nearing has received numerous awards and honors, including fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and MacDowell.
