Jerome Hiler's creative path unfolded as a painter, initially mentored by the insightful Natalia Pohrebinska at Pratt Institute, where he honed his skills and cultivated a solid foundation in the visual arts. Yet, it was his encounter with the avant-garde and lyrical realm of 16mm experimental film that profoundly altered the course of his artistic endeavors. The innovative and boundary-pushing works of pioneering filmmakers such as Marie Menken, Gregory Markopoulos, and Stan Brakhage, in particular, exerted a profound influence on Hiler's creative trajectory, gradually redirecting the focus of his artistic energies towards the realm of filmmaking.
Over a considerable period of time, Hiler's cinematic endeavors were largely confined to his intimate social circle. However, commencing from 1995, his creative output began to receive increased recognition, transcending its initial limited scope.
Noted filmmaker Hiler has cultivated a diverse range of skills throughout his illustrious career, effortlessly transitioning between the roles of photographer, editor, and director in both feature films and documentaries. This multifaceted expertise has allowed him to excel in a variety of mediums, including stained glass, which he holds in high esteem as a sister-art to filmmaking. Under the moniker CINEMA BEFORE 1300, Hiler has delivered captivating slide lectures on medieval glass, drawing from his vast collection of photographs on the subject, at esteemed institutions such as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Princeton University, and The Art Gallery of Toronto.
Notably, Hiler has successfully merged his profound enthusiasm for classical music with the realm of film, co-directing the documentary MUSIC MAKES A CITY, a cinematic endeavor that showcases his multifaceted creative talents.
