John Lyons

John Lyons is an Erie-based filmmaker best known for the eco-horror feature Unearth (2020), which he co-directed with his partner, Dorota Swies. The film premiered at Fantasia Film Festival, screened at MoMA, and was released on Showtime. His work includes the Emmy-nominated documentary Lake Erie, Our Kin (2023) with Melissa A. Troutman and a series of short dance films—Funeral (2021), Ave Maria (2023), and War (2025)—created in collaboration with Corinne Justine and Seiche Dance Collective. John is the owner of Tethered, Erie’s first immersive theatrical experience and artist collective, launched in 2024. He is also a producer for the award-winning Our Erie (2020-2022, 2025) and has been a rostered teaching artist with Erie Arts & Culture and Erie Center for Arts and Technology since 2012.

His focus is Filmmaking (Narrative and Documentary).