Jonaz McMillan is an award-winning author, writer, and artist based in Los Angeles. He holds an MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College and an MA in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University. He co-authored Monster Hands, a 2025 Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book, and is the co-creator of Hands Land (Prime Video). His work as a director includes the first season of Moonbug’s MyGo, a children’s series, and the ASL dubbing of The Pitt (HBO Max) Season 1. His notable credits include Deaf President Now! (Sundance 2025, Emmy-nominated), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Sundance 2025), The Tuba Thieves (Sundance 2023), Oedipus (The Getty Villa, 2022), CBS Showcase 2022, and Noggin’s Troop Dragonfly.

He is committed to creating meaningful work that uplifts Deaf communities, centers children, and leaves a lasting impact on future generations. A former faculty member at Gallaudet University, he served as Festival Director of the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival with Deaf West in 2023 and 2024 in Salt Lake City. He returned in 2026 to lead the festival in Riverside, California. He believes storytelling can create pathways for healing and help shift the paradigms of our society. Occasionally, he writes from the heart on napkins and leaves them in public places, hoping they resonate with strangers.