Brownlee's first feature film was the 2013 drama Decoding Annie Parker, which covers the story of Annie Parker and the discovery of the BRCA1breast cancer gene. In 2016, he was executive producer and producer of the film Occupy, Texas, the story of a disillusioned Occupy Wall Street protester who must return to Texas to care for his two teen sisters and the family estate after the death of their parents. Brownlee wanted the film to be "an indigenous project, a Dallas project", and shot almost exclusively in Dallas, with a one-day exception in New York City. He was director, executive producer, producer, and a writer of the film Three Days in August. The film premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival in April 2016 and had its international premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival in August 2016. The film had a limited national theatrical release through the Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill chain in December 2016. Brownlee was also an executive producer on the horror comedy film. In 2018, Brownlee was a producer for The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, a film about a reclusive former cop who must investigate fellow militia members as suspects in a mass shooting at a police funeral. The film had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by RLJE Films. In 2019, he was co-executive producer for Satanic Panic, a comedy horror film. Shot in Dallas, the film centers on a pizza delivery girl who delivers food to a group of socialite Satanists who plan to use her as a virgin sacrifice. The film was released in September 2019.
Nonprofit organizations
In 2017, Brownlee was named CEO and President of the nonprofit organization Dallas Film Society and Executive Director of the Dallas International Film Festival. In 2018, he created the Veterans Institute for Film and Media, a program of Dallas Film that prepares veterans for careers in film and media production through education, mentorships, and job placements. In 2019, Brownlee founded Dallas Film's second festival, the North Texas Film Festival, which premiered September 26–29 in 2019.
Awards and honors
He received a Leo Awards Best Host – Information Series honor in 2003 for his television show, Johnathan Brownlee's atHome. He received five Leo Award Nominations, including Best Lifestyle Series, Best Writing – Lifestyle Series, Best Information Series, Best Screenwriting – Information Series, and Best Host – Lifestyle Series.
