Professional Development
The 2000s
When Donald Preston Cato moved to New York City in the late 80’s, he was immersed in other interests including producing award winning cabaret and comedy shows. In the 2000’s he reignited his filmmaking career with projects like Be My Oswald, which earned international acclaim and was compared to Dr. Strangelove. His 2011 film Presto, a hand-painted 16mm short, won an Animation Award at the ReelHeART International Film Festival. In 2013, his short Dead Man Rides Subway, based on a poem by Pulitzer Prize nominated poet Cornelius Eady, won the Grand Prize at the ROXY UNDERGROUND Film Festival. That same year, Cato co-directed My Kansas, an award-winning bio-doc, and served as DP/Editor for My Day, which received multiple awards for acting and filmmaking.
Currently, Cato is the Founding Artistic Director of the Queens World Film Festival which he launched in 2011 with wife Katha Cato, the festival’s Founding Executive Director. Under his leadership, the festival has screened 1,979 films from 98 nations including 274 from Queens based filmmakers. He and his wife Katha Cato firmly established independent cinema as a staple in the Queens cultural landscape.
In 2012 as recognition for his contributions to the borough, Preston was named a ‘King of Queens’ and received a Citation of Merit from US House of Representative Joseph Crowley and a Certificate of Recognition by NYCity Council Member Danny Dromm. In 2013 He and Katha were given a Certificate of Merit from the NYState Assembly for their contribution to arts & culture in Queens. In 2021 MovieMakerMagazine included the festival in their annual list of Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, and in 2022 Queens World was on the list of the top 20 film festivals for first time filmmakers. In 2025, the festival was named “Best Annual Festival Event in Queens” by Schneps Media.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES 2000 – Present
Queens World Film Festival: Founding Artistic Director (2010 – Present)
An annual multi-day/multi-venue film festival featuring exciting films from around the world and around the corner
Year round programming to support filmmakers at every stage of their career including panels, workshops, residencies, encore screenings, and other pop up opportunities.
After All These Years (A reflection) (2025)
- Narrative Feature (104 min)
- Director’s Cut: Dixie Lanes
- Starring Karen Black, Hoyt Axton, Moses Gunn, Ruth Buzzi
- Director, Co-Writer, Original Story
- Panavison 35mm Agfa color negative
- ChipAway Productions – Producer
In the Sizzle at Renaissance Charter School (2025)
- Documentary/Sizzle Reel (7:42 min)
- Rensizzle Immersion Program
- Renaissance Charter School, Jackson Heights
- Production Supervisor
Digital Film Academy (2004 to 2024)
- Screenwriting, Beginning & Advanced
- Directing, Beginning & Advanced
- Thesis Project Proposal, Beginning & Advanced,
- Web TV Screenwriting
- Thesis Post Production Workshop
- Film History, Documentary Theory, Producing
Why I wear a Mask – (2021)
- Series of Public Service Announcements focused on Community Covid Health
- Director, Editor
- ChipAway Productions in association with Queens World Film Festival
What Do You Want Us To Know (2020)
- Pandemic film shot on zoom with filmmakers 11 – 16 yrs old (16:33 min)
- Director, Editor, Youth Developer
- ChipAway Productions in association with Queens World Film Festival
Once Upon A Musical (2020)
- Short Documentary (23:47 min)
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Post Production Supervisor
- Client: Queens Theatre in the Park
- Chipaway Productions Producer
Common Ground: Survivors (2019)
- Feature Documentary (50.01 min)
- Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Design
- Commonpoint Queens
- Production Credits
Alone (2018)
- Music Video (3:19 min)
- #2 On The Traditional Music Charts
- Vincent Cross Composer, Musician, Performer,
- Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Design
Dead Man Rides Subway (2018)
- Short Narrative (5:20)
- Grand Prize Winner, The Roxy Underground Film Festival, NYC 2018
- Based on a poem by Pulitzer Prize nominated poet Cornelius Eady
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
My Kansas (2016)
- Short Documentary (28:58)
- Co-Director, Co-Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Post Production Director
- Multiple Festivals with Best DOc Multiple Wins, Played on PBS,
- Richard Uhlig Productions
Jason’s Stuff (2016)
- Short Narrative (13:08)
- Director, Cinematographer, Editor – Teaching Artist
- Henry Street Settlement After-School Services
Teacher as Student (2015)
- Narrative Short (7:00 min)
- Winner Best Director/Best Actor DYCD Student Film Festival
- Producer/Director – Teaching Artist
- Henry Street Settlement After-School Services
The Magic Pencil (2014)
- Narrative Short (18:26 min)
- Best Student Film at Chain Film Festival
- Producer/Director – Teaching Artist
- Henry Street Settlement After-School Services
Mr. Food (2014)
- Animated Stop Motion Short (2:59)
- Guest screening with the Harlem Children’s Festival (2014)
- Producer/Director – Teaching Artist
- Henry Street Settlement After-School Services
My Day (2013)
- Narrative Short (22:27)
- Cinematographer, Editor and Sound Design
- Paul Kelly Productions
- Multiple Festival wins for Best Actress Judith Roberts ( EraserHead, Orange is the New Black)
Joe Feffer – The Real Deal (2010)
- Short Documentary (3:12)
- Tribute Video for Induction to Arizona Rancher Hall of Fame
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
- Far Western Industries ( Arizona )
The French Kiss Melon (2009)
- Branding Video (5:28)
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
- Sandstone Marketing, Yuma, AZ
Youth Services Trilogy (2008)
- Fundraising Documentary (30:00)
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
- Henry Street Settlement
Be My Oswald (2006)
- Narrative Feature (93:56)
- Writer, Director, Producer
- 16mm, Super 16mm, Pal Video, Hi-8 & MiniDV
- 8 festivals, 6 nominations and 3 wins:
- Best Feature at Wales Film Festival
- Best Feature Film New York International Film & Video Festival (2006)
- Best in Venue at ReelHeart Film Festival (2007)
- New Filmmakers Selection Anthology Film Archives (2007)
- Emmy Selection Committee Screening
- Be My Oswald, LLC
Play Rugby USA – (2005-2008)
- Assorted Promos and Short Docs
- Why I Play Rugby – Winner: Clint Eastwood “Invictus Award”
- Pepsi Refresh
- Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
- Winner The Invictus Award sponsored by the National Youth Rugby Competition