Pennebaker has worked as a director, producer, camera, and editor of documentary films for many years.  His various credits include:  The Ukrainian Mennonites a documentary about a couple after WW II; the Academy Award nominated The Warroom(1994); Searching for Jimi Hendrix(1997); Moon Over Broadway(1998) STARTUP.com (2002);  Down from the Mountain(2002); Only the Strong Survive(2003); We have Arrived(2005); and After Innocence(2005).  He has also made several projected programs for the MET and Rock 'n Roll Hall

of Fame. As well as for The New Yorker and it's 60TH birthday tribute to Bob Dylan at Town Hall (2000).

                               

In 1999 Pennebaker filmed a two day music festival for the Harry Smith Foundation at the Church of Saint Ann’s in Brooklyn, NY.  The Festival included performances by; Wilco, Moby, and Lou Reed.  He also spent much of the year following The Dave Matthews Band on tour for a never released film by Sam Erickson.

                                                                                              

Pennebaker’s television work includes the PBS series Sessions at West 54th Street; The BRAVO Profiles series; VH-1’s ‘Unplugged’ series; And is currently directing the  PBS and A&E international series, ‘Live From the Artists Den’ now in its 4TH season

His Music work includes projects with; Depeche Mode (1989), Soul Asylum (1996), Victoria Williams (1996), Marius Westernhagen (1997), Guster (1999), John Mayer(2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), TRAIN(2000), Wyclef Jean(2002), Bon Jovi(2001, 2002), David Gray(2001), Avril Lavigne(2002), Kris Kristofferson(2002), My Morning Jacket(2003, 2004, 2006), Phish [2003, 2004, 2009], Bruce Hornsby(2004), Ani DiFranco(2004), Franz Ferdinand(2004), The New York Dolls(2004-2005, 2006), Pearl Jam(2006), The Foo Fighters(2006), Jesse Malin(2006), O.A.R.(2007), India Arie(2009), Demi Lovato(2009), Motley Crue(2009), Ben Harper(2009), Chicken Foot(2009), Stone Temple Pilots(2010), The Flaming Lips(2010), The Black Keys(2010), The National(2010), Ivete Sangola(2010), Jackson Brown(2010), Elvis Costello (2010), Ray La Montagne (2010), Broken Social Scene(2011), and others.

  

Over the course of his career he has worked with some of verite film making’s most recognizable names; Robert Leacock, Al Maysles, Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus and his father, D. A. Pennebaker.

Pennebaker has also contributed to several documentaries and other projects: Amie Seigel's “Empathy” about psychology and architecture. Rachel Boynton's “Our Brand is Crisis” a film about the 2002 Bolivian presidential campaign. The Sundance Channel program from 2004, “Vote for Change”: Chaix Vasarhelyi’s film ‘Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love.’ Gillian Grisman’s film with singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, ‘My Secret Record.’ Brave New Films examination, for the Sierra Club, of environmental conditions at Ground Zero after 9/11.  And Aiyana Eliot's film about her father, “The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack.”

Pennebaker is currently working on a film called "Show and Tell," a series of conversations with several of the most influential people in documentary filmmaking past and present.

Today, Pennebaker is an independent filmmaker.  He lives in New York City and Vancouver, BC.