John Foss is an independent filmmaker, actor, and producer whose career reflects a rare blend of performance-driven storytelling and cinematic craft. Originally trained as an actor at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Utah, he began landing leading roles in faith-based independent films and national campaigns before setting his sights on the other side of the camera.

His transition into filmmaking was formalized at Columbia University's prestigious MFA Film program, where he was mentored by renown filmmakers including veteran producer Michael Hausman (Gangs of New York, Amadeus, The Firm). His first feature screenplay was a finalist for the Sundance Sloan Commissioning Grant, and his debut short Kofi premiered in competition at the American Pavilion's Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Early short films circulated through festivals including Vancouver, Indianapolis, and Heartland, setting the stage for larger ambitions.

Foss continued performing in parallel, most notably landing the lead role of Jesus in the dramatic biblical series The Life of Jesus Christ, alongside principal roles in independent film and national campaigns for Volkswagen, Wrangler, Volvo, Purina, and RE/MAX, among others.

Following Columbia, he joined Kaleidoscope Pictures near Sundance, Utah, where his work as a director and producer has spanned five continents and earned Gold-level recognition from the Emmy, Telly, CINE, and ADDY Awards, writing and directing for worldwide brands such as P&G, Ancestry, Jeep, and FranklinCovey. During this period he co-produced the Christmas drama Winter Thaw starring John Rhys-Davies (named one of the "best religious-themed Christmas shows available" by the New York Times) and the WWII drama Instrument of War, both shot on location in Lithuania. He also produced live concert events including Christmas Under the Stars, featuring Grammy-winning artists John Legend, Train, The Band Perry, and Five for Fighting. He has also directed productions with The Royal Ballet School and Royal Opera House in London, and three televised performances with Ballet West.

His producing credits extend into major studio and independent features. He worked as production supervisor on Paul Schrader's The Card Counter, executive produced by Martin Scorsese and selected for the Venice Film Festival; line produced Netflix's holiday comedy Best. Christmas. Ever!; and executive and line produced Robert Machoian's The Integrity of Joseph Chambers, which premiered at Tribeca, and Marc Marriott's Tokyo Cowboy, selected as an AMC Artisan Film. His screenplays have advanced in both the Academy's Nicholl Fellowship and the Austin Screenwriting Competition.

As a writer-director, Foss helmed the award-winning The Christ Child and the independent sports drama Strong Enough, which premiered on Prime. He returned to Lithuania with his team to produce Truth & Treason, based on the true story of resistance fighter Helmuth Hübener which received a wide theatrical release. Most recently, he co-produced Omaha, a family drama directed by Cole Webley that competed at the Sundance Film Festival, and he appears in a principal role in 2026's summer event Young Washington.

Based in the Rocky Mountains near Sundance Resort, Foss continues to develop and create projects through his collaboration with Kaleidoscope Pictures, where he focuses on feature films, series, and branded content. A member of the Producers Guild of America, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and SAG-E he remains actively engaged in the evolving landscape of film and television. With a career that bridges performance, storytelling, and production, Foss has established himself as a multifaceted filmmaker whose work resonates across both festival circuits and global audiences.