Jagger Cardinale

Biography

Jagger Cardinale (born February 5, 2009) is an American student filmmaker known for directing and writing a range of award winning student shorts. His work explores the quiet, often overlooked moments of adolescence that shape identity and forge teenage connections. Jagger has received several accolades, including a Silver Telly Award, Best High School Short at the Long Island Youth Film Festival, and Best Director at the Rochester Teen Film Festival. His films have also been recognized with an Official Selection at the All American High School Film Festival, Silver Best Horror and Silver Best Drama from the New York Film Alliance. He is known for films such as On Air (2026), Second Skin (2025), The Rhythm Within (2025), The Echoes of Elara (2024) and The Bright Side of Gray (2024). Jagger has also studied film at USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he has written, directed, and worked behind the camera on projects alongside other emerging filmmakers (summer 2025). These experiences continue to push him to explore new techniques and pursue deeper and creative stories in every project he creates.