Fenton Bailey is an English-American film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor. He is best known for his documentary films, which often explore LGBTQ themes and the lives of LGBTQ people.
Born in England in 1961, Bailey moved to the United States in 1982. He began his career in the film and television industry in 1984, working in the art department for a series of music videos. He eventually moved into directing, making a series of music videos and documentaries for television networks such as MTV and the BBC.
In 1994, Bailey formed the production company World of Wonder with partner Randy Barbato. Through World of Wonder, Bailey has produced and directed a wide range of award-winning documentaries, including The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000), Party Monster (2003), Inside Deep Throat (2005), and The Last Angel of History (1996). More recently, Bailey directed Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures (2016), a biographical documentary about the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Bailey's work often focuses on LGBTQ communities and individuals. He has produced and directed a number of documentaries exploring the lives of transgender people, including The Brandon Teena Story (1998) and Becoming Chaz (2011). He also directed The RuPaul Show (1996-1998), a landmark TV series about drag culture and queer identity.
Bailey has won several awards for his work, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special for Inside Deep Throat (2005) and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary for Becoming Chaz (2011). He has also been nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for Party Monster (2003).
Bailey is currently working on a number of projects, including a documentary about the history of queer cinema. He continues to produce and direct documentaries that explore the diverse and vibrant lives of LGBTQ people.
