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Benny Safdie

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Benny Safdie
Safdie in 2010
Born
Benjamin Safdie

(1986-02-24) February 24, 1986 (age 38)
New York City, U.S.
EducationBoston University
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, actor, film editor
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Ava Rawski
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
Relatives

Benjamin Safdie (born February 24, 1986)[1] is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and film editor best known for working with his older brother Josh as a filmmaker. His directorial works include Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). Transitioning towards acting, Safdie was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role in Good Time and has since taken on roles in films such as Licorice Pizza (2021), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and Oppenheimer (both 2023). He co-created, co-wrote and starred in the television show The Curse (2023).

Early life

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Safdie was born to Amy and Alberto Safdie; of Syrian Jewish descent and was raised in New York.[2] He and brother Josh divided their childhood living between their father in Queens and their mother and stepfather in Manhattan upon their parents' divorce.[2] He attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School[2] and graduated from the Boston University College of Communication in 2008.

Career

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Filmmaker

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Main article: Safdie brothers

The Safdies' first feature was the 2009 film Daddy Longlegs, which they also wrote the screenplay and edited together.[3] The film was showcased in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[4] In 2013, they debuted the documentary film Lenny Cooke at the Tribeca Film Festival,[5] a documentary they became attached to after Cooke approached them to review the footage.[6] In 2014, the pair premiered their next film Heaven Knows What at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.[7] In February 2016, the brothers began filming their crime thriller film Good Time. which Benny starred in alongside Robert Pattinson, in New York City.[8] It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or.[9] Benny, for his performance, was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.[10]

Uncut Gems, Josh and Benny's next film, starred Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield and Julia Fox and was executive produced by Martin Scorsese.[11] The brothers won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, and Benny shared the Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing with Ronald Bronstein, with whom he co-edited with on all the Safdie brother films.[12]

Safdie and Nathan Fielder co-created the Showtime series The Curse, which premiered in November 2023.[13]

Acting roles

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In 2017, Safdie began taking on performances not directed by himself or Josh, appearing in a role in the film Person to Person.[14] In 2020, he appeared in Pieces of a Woman,[15] and in 2021 had a large supporting role in the Paul Thomas Anderson film Licorice Pizza.[16]

In 2022, Safdie appeared in Claire Denis' romantic thriller Stars at Noon,[17] and as Nari in the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.[18] In 2023, he starred in the film adaptation Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.,[19] and appears as Edward Teller in Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan.[20]

Personal life

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Safdie is Jewish. His father was born in Italy, raised in France and is of Sephardic-Jewish and Syrian-Jewish descent.[2][21][22][23] His mother is of Russian-Jewish descent.[24] His great uncle is architect Moshe Safdie. His cousin once removed is playwright Oren Safdie.[25]

He is married to Ava Safdie (née Rawski), with whom he has two sons, Cosmo and Murray James.[26]

Filmography

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As Safdie brothers

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Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes
2006 If You See Something, Say Something No Yes No short film
The Ralph Handel Story Yes No Yes short film
Life with Zach Mulden Yes Yes Yes short film
2008 The Pleasure of Being Robbed No No Yes
There's Nothing You Can Do Yes Yes Yes short film
John's Lonely Trip to Coney Island Yes No Yes short film
2009 Daddy Longlegs Yes Yes Yes
2010 John's Gone Yes Yes Yes Short film; also producer
2013 Lenny Cooke Yes No Yes
2014 Heaven Knows What Yes No Yes
2017 Good Time Yes No Yes
2019 Uncut Gems Yes Yes Yes
2020 Goldman v Silverman Yes Yes No short film
Question & Answer Yes Yes Yes short film
2022 Funny Pages No No No producer

Benny Safdie only

Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes
2007 What To Do When Choking Yes No Yes Short film
2008 The Story of Charles Riverbank Yes Yes Yes Short film
The Acquaintances of a Lonely John Yes Yes Yes Short film; also producer
2025 The Smashing Machine Yes Yes TBA Also producer[27]

As actor

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Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
2017 Person to Person Eugene Dustin Guy Defa
Good Time Nick Nikas Safdie brothers
2020 Pieces of a Woman Chris Kornél Mundruczó
2021 Licorice Pizza Joel Wachs Paul Thomas Anderson
2022 Stars at Noon CIA Man Claire Denis
2023 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Herb Simon Kelly Fremon Craig
Oppenheimer Edward Teller Christopher Nolan

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Togetherness Craddock Brother #2 1 episode
2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi Nari Miniseries, 1 episode
2023 The Curse Dougie Schecter Main role; also co-creator, writer and editor

Awards and nominations

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Safdie brothers

References

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  1. ^ "Benny Safdie". AlloCiné. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Sanneh, Kelefa (December 16, 2019). "The Safdie Brothers' Full-Immersion Filmmaking". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Macaulay, Scott (January 28, 2010). "Daddy Longlegs Josh and Benny Safdie". Filmmaker Magazine. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "Quinzaine 2009". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  5. ^ Kemmerle, Karen (April 15, 2013). "'Lenny Cooke' Directors Josh and Benny Safdie Explore What Happened to the American Dream". Tribeca Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Harris, Brandon (December 6, 2013). "Hoop Dreams: Josh and Benny Safdie on Lenny Cooke". Filmmaker. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Foundas, Scott (August 28, 2014). "'Heaven Knows What' Review: The Safdies Take a Step Forward". Variety. Archived from the original on August 30, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "On the Set for 1/8/16: Robert Pattinson Starts on the Feature, 'Good Time' While Michael Fassbender & Marion Cotillard Wrap 'Assassin's Creed'". SSN Insider. January 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  9. ^ "The 2017 Official Selection". Cannes. April 13, 2017. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  10. ^ Sharf, Zach (November 21, 2017). "2018 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 'Get Out' and 'Call Me by Your Name' Dominate". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 28, 2018). "Safdie Brothers' 'Uncut Gems' Scores Financing From RT Features & Scorsese's Sikelia – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Blyth, Antonia (February 8, 2020). "Independent Spirit Awards Redresses Female Balance With Wins For Lulu Wang, Olivia Wilde & Julia Reichert – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  13. ^ White, Peter (December 10, 2020). "Emma Stone To Star In Comedy Series The Curse From Nathan Fielder & Safdie Brothers For Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Kohn, Eric (January 20, 2017). "Tragedy, Neurosis, Sundance: The Long, Strange Journey of Person to Person Director Dustin Guy Defa". Indiewire. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 21, 2020). "Sarah Snook & Benny Safdie Join 'Pieces Of A Woman; Jaime Zevallos & Adrienne Lovette Board A Boy Like That". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Sneider, Jeff (August 31, 2020). "Benny Safdie to Play Gay Politician in Paul Thomas Anderson's New '70s Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "Stars at Noon". Ad Vitam Distribution. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 29, 2021). "Obi-Wan Kenobi To Start Production In April; Disney+ Series Cast Includes Joel Edgerton Returning To Star Wars Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Sneider, Jeff (April 7, 2021). "Exclusive: Benny Safdie Joins Rachel McAdams in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  20. ^ Grobar, Matt (December 9, 2021). "Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer Adds Florence Pugh, Rami Malek & Benny Safdie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  21. ^ Robinson, George (August 17, 2010). "Being The Safdie Brothers". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  22. ^ Barshad, Amos (August 21, 2017). "The Safdie Brothers Are Classic New York Hustlers". The Fader. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  23. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (June 17, 2015). "Life as lived by a homeless junkie". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  24. ^ Vance, Kelly (December 25, 2019). "Hoops Hoopla + Precious Stones = Mayhem". East Bay Express. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  25. ^ Foley, Euan (June 29, 2020). "A Brief History of the Safdie Brothers". Port Magazine. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  26. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (August 10, 2017). "Safdie brothers bring a New York flavor to breakout thriller Good Time". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  27. ^ Shanfield, Ethan (December 13, 2023). "Benny Safdie to Direct Dwayne Johnson in A24 Movie About MMA Legend Mark Kerr". Variety. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
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