Daniel H. Birman is an award-winning documentary producer, director, and writer. 

Birman is most notably known for Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story, a feature documentary for Netflix. The 17-year odyssey follows a 16-year-old girl arrested for murder in Tennessee in 2004 through her release from prison in 2019. The project reveals deep social issues and a complex family history that led to her receiving a life sentence in prison. This was based on Birman’s award-winning documentary, Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story (PBS Independent Lens) and Sentencing Children (ITVS and The Tennessean), a seven-part series about legislation and minors who commit crimes.

Birman recently produced and directed Saint Patrick’s Greatest Gift, a documentary for CuriosityStream based on Thomas Cahill’s New York Times bestselling book, How the Irish Saved Civilization.  Birman also produced and directed The Earliest Americans, The Hunt for Dark Matter, and Conscious Capitalism for CuriosityStream.

Birman founded his production company in 1999 with a series on Discovery Health called Alternatives: Uncovered. They have produced for many networks and streamers in the ensuing decades, and now producing a groundbreaking documentary series centering on science-based solutions and global participation for climate change.  Prior, he produced medical television with some of the nation’s leading research physicians during a six-year association with Lifetime Medical Television.

Birman has a notable history with the Television Academy. He served on its Board of Governors representing Documentary Programming (multiple terms from 1996-2022). He also served in leadership roles for the organization as part of its Executive Committee, bylaws, activities, and membership committees. 

In 2001, Birman joined the faculty at USC Annenberg. He developed the undergraduate and graduate documentary programs and is an executive producer for Impact, an award-winning student documentary series with national distribution through Spectrum Networks.