Jem Cohen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jem Cohen (born 1962, Kabul, Afghanistan) is a New York City-based filmmaker known for his blending of media formats (16mm, Super 8, video) and collaborations with music artists.He was born in Afghanistan where his father was working for the U.S. Agency for Information and Development.
Cohen's most well-known work is the 1999 experimental documentary Instrument, a portrait of the D.C.-punk band Fugazi that was ten years in the making. Another popular work is the portrait Benjamin Smoke, a film about the life of the frontman of the Atlanta, Georgia band Smoke, who died of AIDS shortly before the film's completion. Other works of note are his Walter Benjamin-inspired portrait of New York City, Lost Book Found and his short film about the late Elliott Smith, "Lucky Three". Cohen is currently screening his first fictional feature in an installation exhibit called Chain. Others influences include filmmakers, Chris Marker and John Cassavetes.
Other music artists Cohen has collaborated with over the years include Opal Foxx Quartet, Sparklehorse, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Vic Chesnutt,Patti Smith, R.E.M. and Blonde Redhead.
[edit] Trivia
- Some of Jem's Super 8-footage was used in the Sonic Youth video "Do You Believe in Rapture?"
[edit] External links
- Jem Cohen at the Internet Movie Database
- Jem Cohen's website
- Just Hold Still; A Conversation with Jem Cohen
- Open Letter from Jem Cohen
- Consumption/Conversion: Dean Otto interviews Jem Cohen
- Interview with KQED's Independent View
- Chain Reaction: Jem Cohen
- Nineteen Hopes For An Activist Cinema by Jem Cohen (Article for Veritgo Magazine)
- YouTube Video:Cohen's acceptance speech for the Indepdent Spirit Award
- Jem Cohen's Alpert Award profile
- CalArts:Alpert Award in Film/Video
- Video Database of Jem Cohen work
- Jem Cohen, Lost Book Found
- Interview with Indiewire
