Jeff Kaufman Explained

Jeff Kaufman
Birth Date:6 July 1955
Occupation:Film producer, director and writer / artist
Years Active:1993present
Spouse:Marcia Ross
Family:Richard C. Ross (father-in-law)

Jeff Kaufman (born July 6, 1955) is an American film producer, director, writer, and artist.[1] Kaufman has produced, written, and directed documentaries focusing on human rights activism and cultural icons including The State of Marriage, Every Act of Life, and Nasrin.

Early life

Kaufman was born in Minnesota and raised in Bellevue, Washington. He dropped out of college and moved to New York City where he worked as a messenger for The New Yorker. Kaufman contributed cartoons to The New Yorker, as well as illustrations to The Los Angeles Times[2] [3] [4] and The New York Times. He also wrote for magazines and newspapers, and exhibited his paintings at art galleries.[5] Kaufman hosted the radio talk show "The Talk of Vermont"[6] in Vermont for five years[1] before moving to Los Angeles in 2000.[7]

Film career

2003–2012: Early works

Kaufman directed and produced the Discovery Channel special WTC 9/11: Stories from the Ruins, and episodes for Unsolved History, a Discovery Channel documentary television series. In 2007, he produced Brush With Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman, a documentary film which portrayed the life of modernist painter Edward Biberman.[8]

In 2011, he produced Education Under Fire, a documentary centered around the persecution of Baháʼís in Iran, in collaboration with Amnesty International.[9] Kaufman's work on his next film, The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America, drew praise from critics.[10] The film included interviews with Frankie Manning, Van Alexander, Louie Bellson, Roy Haynes, and Norma Miller. It featured the voices of Billy Crystal, John Legend, Janet Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Ron Perlman, Tyne Daly, Andy Garcia, Danny Glover, Keith David, Eugene Robinson, and Charlie Watts.[11]

2015–2018: The State of Marriage and Every Act of Life

In 2015, Kaufman directed, co-produced and wrote the critically acclaimed documentary film The State of Marriage, about the same-sex marriage movement in Vermont.[12] [13] Kaufman credited "countless examples of personal and political courage" that he witnessed during his stint as a radio host in Vermont as his inspiration to make the film.[14] His next film Father Joseph depicted the contributions of Haitian Catholic priest Joseph Philippe in the empowerment of Haitians living in poverty.[15] [16]

In 2018, Kaufman wrote and directed Every Act of Life, a documentary on the playwright and LGBT activist Terrence McNally, featuring F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Rita Moreno, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, and Patrick Wilson, with the voices of Bryan Cranston and Meryl Streep.[17] The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was screened at dozens of other film festivals. It was broadcast as part of the American Masters series on PBS[5] [18] and received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.[19]

2020–present: Nasrin and beyond

In 2020, Kaufman produced a short documentary focusing on women's rights in Iran called 40 Million: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran.[20] Later that year, he produced and directed Nasrin, a documentary feature on Nasrin Sotoudeh and her fight for the rights of women, children and minorities in Iran. Narrated by Olivia Colman, the documentary was filmed secretly in Iran between late 2017 and mid 2018.[21] [22] It premiered at The Boston Globes GlobeDocs Film Festival and was screened at dozens of film festivals, receiving positive reviews from critics.[23] Kaufman said about Sotoudeh, "There’s a good reason Nasrin has been called 'The Nelson Mandela of Iran'. She has the same kind of determination, resilience and vision."[24] Nasrin was released on Hulu in June 2021 and nominated for Best Political Documentary at the 6th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.[25]

In 2023, Kaufman launched a button campaign called "I oppose the mandatory hijab" in solidarity with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. The project's partners included PEN America, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Parliamentarians for Global Action, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran.[26]

Other work

Art

Kaufman exhibited paintings in Los Angeles before becoming a filmmaker, and has continued to paint and exhibit. His artwork typically makes use of acrylic paint on wood, and involves the scraping down and reapplying of multiple thin layers of paint. His recent work comprises a series of paintings linked to one theme, such as the Nahua deity Tláloc, the Ukraine war, and the Babi Yar massacres.[27] [28]

Theatre

Kaufman has written several full-length and short plays.[29] In March 2024, his play First Aid was a winner at the Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival.[30]

Personal life

Kaufman is married to Marcia Ross, a casting director and documentary producer, with whom he has produced six documentary films.[31] He has two children–Anna Kaufman and Daniel Kaufman.[32]

Filmography

Year Film Credits
2020 Nasrin writer, director, producer
2020 40 Million: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran writer, director, producer
2018 Every Act of Life writer, director, producer
2015 Father Joseph writer, director, producer
2015 The State of Marriage writer, director, producer
2012 The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America writer, director, producer
2011 Education Under Fire writer, director, producer
2010 Free Shane and Josh writer, director, producer
2007 Brush with Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman writer, director, producer
2005 Unsolved History: The Hope Diamond director, producer
2004 Unsolved History: Hunting Nazis director, producer
2003 WTC 9/11: Stories from the Ruins writer, director, producer
2003 The Last Mission associate producer

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2015GlobeDocs Film FestivalAudience AwardThe State of Marriage[33]
2018Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalAudience Award for Best Documentary FeatureEvery Act of Life[34]
2020Emmy AwardsOutstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesAmerican Masters
2021Critics' Choice Documentary AwardsBest Political DocumentaryNasrin
Cinema for Peace AwardsAward for Women’s Empowerment[35]
The Voices of Invisible Women Award[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Thompson . Christine . Jeff Kaufman On Where We are, How We Got There, And Where We Need To Go From Here . 30 May 2019 . AMFM Magazine . 2015-09-12.
  2. Web site: The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on March 25, 1990 · Page 3. Newspapers.com. 25 March 1990 . en. 2019-04-03.
  3. Web site: The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on May 24, 1992 · Page 3. Newspapers.com. 24 May 1992 . en. 2019-04-03.
  4. Web site: The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on December 13, 1992 · Page 3. Newspapers.com. 13 December 1992 . en. 2019-04-03.
  5. News: R . Cindy . Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life ~ Director's Statement - Jeff Kaufman . 6 April 2023 . PBS . 20 May 2019.
  6. News: Kirkaldy . Andy . New film highlights locals' role in nation's move to same-sex marriage . 30 May 2019 . Addison County Independent . 2015-09-10.
  7. Web site: Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11 - A TRIBUTE TO TALK OF VERMONT'S JEFF KAUFMAN. www.govinfo.gov. 2019-04-04.
  8. News: Knight . Christopher . Art Review . 30 May 2019 . The Los Angeles Times . 2009-03-04.
  9. News: Film Review: A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS from Education Under Fire on Vimeo. . 30 May 2019 . Iran Press Watch . 2012-05-26.
  10. News: DeFore . John . The Savoy King: Film Review . 30 May 2019 . The Hollywood Reporter . 2012-06-15.
  11. News: Scheib . Ronnie . The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America . 6 April 2023 . Variety . 17 October 2012.
  12. News: King . Loren . Provincetown film fest selections focus on foundations of marriage-equality movement . 30 May 2019 . Boston Spirit Magazine . 2015-06-30.
  13. News: Rooney . David . 'The State of Marriage': Provincetown Review . 30 May 2019 . The Hollywood Reporter . 2015-06-24.
  14. News: 'The State of Marriage' in Vermont: Two decades of progress . 6 April 2023 . GLAAD . 24 April 2014 . en.
  15. News: Althoff . Eric . Rebuilding Haiti: Documentary 'Father Joseph' shows power of faith in restoring troubled nation . 30 May 2019 . The Washington Times . 2016-10-03.
  16. News: 'Father Joseph' documentary highlights work of Haitian priest Father Joseph Philippe . 6 April 2023 . The Bay State Banner . 10 November 2016.
  17. Web site: 'Every Act' is a touching documentary on the life of Tony-winning playwright, librettist Terrence McNally. EST. Joe Westerfield On 11/12/18 at 4:14 PM. 2018-11-12. Newsweek. en. 2019-03-29.
  18. News: Carey . Matthew . 'American Masters' Doc Reveals Impact Of Playwright Terrence McNally . 14 July 2020 . Deadline . 2020-06-08.
  19. News: Jeff Kaufman . 6 April 2023 . Television Academy . en.
  20. News: Szal . Roxy . Documenting the Feminist Movement's Struggle in Iran . 14 July 2020 . Ms Magazine . 2020-03-06.
  21. News: Catsoulis . Jeannette . 'Nasrin' Review: Righting Wrongs in Iran . 6 April 2023 . The New York Times . 17 December 2020.
  22. News: Daniels . Robert . Nasrin movie review & film summary (2021) . 6 April 2023 . Roger Ebert . en.
  23. News: Nasrin - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes . 6 April 2023 . Rotten Tomatoes . en.
  24. News: Mahdavi . Pardis . 'Nasrin': Speaking to the World From a Prison in Iran . 6 April 2023 . Ms. Magazine . 1 October 2020.
  25. News: Lewis . Hilary . 'Summer of Soul' Sweeps Critics Choice Documentary Awards . 6 April 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . 14 November 2021.
  26. News: Saranj . Parisa . 'I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab' Button Campaign Puts Iranian Women's Rights Front and Center . 6 April 2023 . Ms. Magazine . 3 April 2023.
  27. Web site: Jeff Kaufman . Aesthetica Art Prize . 6 June 2024.
  28. News: Interview with Jeff Kaufman . 6 June 2024 . Contemporary Art Curator Magazine . 10 January 2024.
  29. News: Jeff Kaufman . 6 June 2024 . Playwrights' Center . en.
  30. News: Wild . Stephi . Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival 2024 Winners Revealed . 6 June 2024 . BroadwayWorld.com . 7 March 2024 . en.
  31. News: Pates . Michael . Interview with Jeff Kaufman . 6 April 2023 . Cylindr . en.
  32. News: Anchor Launches a Line of Hardcover Books . 6 April 2023 . penguinrandomhouse.com.
  33. News: Goldstein . Meredith . GlobeDocs festival closes with ‘Fastball’ at Fenway - The Boston Globe . 9 June 2024 . BostonGlobe.com . 12 October 2015.
  34. Web site: Previous Winners of the Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Awards . TIGLFF . 9 June 2024.
  35. News: Awards 2021 . 9 June 2024 . Cinema for Peace Foundation.
  36. Web site: Nasrin . www.terradituttifilmfestival.stream . Terra di tutti film festival . 9 June 2024.