Benny Safdie

Benny Safdie is a filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and editor known for his contributions to independent film and contemporary cinema. Alongside his brother Josh Safdie, the Safdie brothers have established themselves with films such as "Heaven Knows What," "Good Time," and "Uncut Gems." In addition to writing and directing, both brothers have taken on roles in acting, editing, cinematography, sound mixing, and producing. Their early interest in filmmaking was influenced by their father, and they co-founded the creative collective Red Bucket Films at Boston University.

The Safdie brothers' feature debut, "Daddy Longlegs," which they wrote and edited together, was featured in the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. Their documentary "Lenny Cooke" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. "Heaven Knows What" was showcased at the Venice International Film Festival, and "Good Time," a crime thriller starring Benny Safdie and Robert Pattinson, competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Benny Safdie received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in "Good Time." Their film "Uncut Gems," featuring Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, and Julia Fox, with Martin Scorsese as executive producer, earned the brothers the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing, which Benny Safdie shared with Ronald Bronstein. Safdie was also featured in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."

In addition to his directorial work, Safdie has appeared in films such as Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza," Kelly Fremon Craig's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," in which he portrayed physicist Edward Teller. On television, Safdie co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the Showtime series "The Curse" with Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone. His performance as Dougie Schecter in the miniseries earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series.

Safdie has also directed solo projects, including the MMA-themed film "The Smashing Machine," starring Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where Safdie won the Silver Lion for Best Direction, and was released theatrically by A24. Safdie's career spans independent filmmaking, acting in major motion pictures, and television, reflecting a broad influence on the film industry and contemporary storytelling.