Neil Turner is an American anthropologist, author, and ethnographic filmmaker who has been living and conducting ethnographic work in Latin America for two decades. Turner's approach is influenced by two major scholars; Michel Foucault and Clifford Geertz. From Foucault, he uses an "archaeological" approach that seeks to excavate and reveal history of the African diaspora that has been omitted from classical and modern history. His influence from Geertz focuses on investigating the hidden, often unspoken rules that structure epistemes that determine what could be known or said versus what is actually known or said regarding people of African origin in any particular era of world history.

Turner is the editor of the online magazine Perspectives in Anthropology and has written for international anthropology journals such as the Italian anthropology journal Antropo and Grin. Also, he has published several books and writings which include Black American Men and Brazilian Women; Cultural Transformation; Origin and Scope of Thick Ethnograpy; Brazil Settlement, Immigration and Urbanization; Unemployment and Poverty in Brazil; Racism in Brazil: Inequality in Educational Opportunities and Social Mobility; Religious Syncretism in Brazil; and Transforming Refugees.

His documentary work includes a half dozen or more documentaries such as Martyrs: Cry for Freedom; Black Tears; The Middle Passage and Black Latin America; Maroons; Jazz and the Avant Garde; and Hood Life. He is considered an independent filmmaker who crafts compelling documentaries that captivate audiences.

Turner states, "...as an anthropologist and ethnographic filmmaker, I am interested in telling the story of those people whose humanity has been rendered unimportant. I want to give audiences the deeper truth - something more than just the facts."