Published May 7th, 2026
BY JADE GRANBERY
Standing on Hollywood’s biggest stage, Carmel Valley resident Conall Jones accepted an Oscar for a film that focuses not on violence, but on what remains after it.
Jones, a filmmaker and producer, recently won an Academy Award for “All the Empty Rooms,” a Netflix short documentary following a journalist and photographer documenting the untouched bedrooms of children killed in American school shootings, providing a personal look into the grief left behind.
As the film’s lead producer, Jones played a central role in shaping the project, from early research through production.
“I did everything from working closely with the director, researching, navigating the storyline and relationships with the subjects,” says the two-time Oscar nominee. “I also helped with filming, scheduling, hiring and communicating with editors.”
Jones’ path to filmmaking began in Carmel, where he spent his childhood exploring different creative outlets. While initially drawn towards photography, experimenting with a friend’s camera led him to filmmaking.
“I was really into the arts in general when I was young,” says Jones. “I was willing to give everything a try, but when I found filmmaking, I gravitated towards that.”
After graduating from Carmel High in 2001, Jones pursued his interest through internships, production assistant work and smaller projects like wedding videos as he entered the industry, eventually leading to working with big names such as Netflix, CNN, NBC, Nickelodeon and many others.
“I only wanted a job that I felt passionate about. But I also wanted one with a positive impact,” says the filmmaker. “I started to realize I could just combine those two passions.”
Lead producer Conall Jones, CHS Class of ’01, and director Joshua Seftel (from left) pose after winning Best Short Documentary for Netflix ‘s “All the Empty Rooms.” photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/THE ACADEMY
Driven by a desire to create something meaningful, Jones moved to documentary-making, where his love for film told stories that matter.
Similarly, the immersive work of documentaries drew him to this path–extensive research and firsthand experiences you can’t get from many other jobs.
From this exposure, Jones gains understanding of the concepts he covers, which is necessary for projects that tackle heavy topics, like “All the Empty Rooms,” or his previous Oscar nomination, “Stranger at the Gate,” which covers topics of PTSD and Islamophobia. Both films cover complex subjects, requiring not only considerable research, but also strong relationships with the people at the center of the stories.
“The biggest challenge was building and maintaining trust with the families,” Jones says of his newest film. “It’s one thing for them to let us into their lives. It’s another to make sure we’re telling their child’s story in the most accurate and respectful way possible.”
The emotional weight often affected the entire crew, with filming sometimes needing to pause as team members processed the gravity of the stories. Despite this, Jones found that working through these experiences creatively could be meaningful.
“When you channel something like that into film or another creative outlet, it can actually be healing,” he reflects.
Jones credits Carmel with helping shape his creative interests, pointing significant attention to the arts as an early influence. At the same time, he notes that growing up in such a comfortable environment can sometimes limit people’s motivation to explore beyond, something he consciously pushed against.
For students interested in pursuing film, Jones emphasizes the importance of passion and commitment, especially as the industry changes.
“It has to be something you truly care about,” he says. “You can’t be thinking about a plan B. You have to be all in.”
Now back in Carmel Valley with his family, Jones is involved in a soccer documentary, a lighter subject after years of emotionally heavy projects.
