JACQUELINE (Jac)  GARES is a New York-based filmmaker. She directed and produced FREE CeCe! (2016) with Laverne Cox. Her current documentary OF MORTAL MEN (2021) follows a formerly incarcerated philosophy student after their release pursuing a formal education.

As supervising producer for IN THE LIFE on public television, her work garnered awards from NLGJA, GLAAD, and Webbys. GARES also produced specials and documentaries for the History Channel, Food Network, USA Networks after working for PBS's premiere non-fiction film showcase, P.O.V./AmDoc. Her documentary, about genetic testing and Alzheimer’s Disease, UNRAVELED, won a Freddie Award in 2008; her short film REMNANT won a TELLY Award in 1999. Gares has a BA in English Literature from Rutgers University and an MA in Media Studies from The New School. Her work has received support from Ford Foundation and Jerome Foundation as an Emerging Film/Video Artist.