Azazel Jacobs
Azazel Jacobs (born September 27, 1972)[1] is an American film director and screenwriter. He is the son of experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs.[2][3] His short films include Kirk and Kerry and Message Machine, and his features include the acclaimed Momma's Man, Terri,[4] The Lovers, and French Exit.
Azazel Jacobs | |
|---|---|
Jacobs in 2017 | |
| Born | September 27, 1972 |
| Alma mater | State University of New York at Purchase AFI Conservatory |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Relatives | Ken Jacobs (father) |
Biography edit
Jacobs grew up in a Jewish family in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.[5] He attended Bayard Rustin High School.[4] He received a bachelor's degree in film from SUNY Purchase and a master's degree from the AFI Conservatory.[6][7] As of 2011[update], Jacobs lives in Los Angeles.[4]
His feature The Goodtimeskid (2005), a micro-budget film, gained a cult following and was later re-released by KINO International.
Jacobs film Momma’s Man premiered at Sundance 2008. Upon its release by KINO International, The New York Times declared the film to be "Independent Film defined."[8]
In 2011, Jacobs film Terri, also written by Patrick deWitt, premiered in competition at Sundance and in competition internationally at Locarno & the BFI London Film Festival’s "Film On The Square."
During 2014 and 2015, Jacobs directed the two seasons of the SKY/HBO show, Doll & Em. He also worked as a writer and producer.
In 2017, Jacobs wrote and directed the film The Lovers which was released by A24 to top specialty box office.[9] The film starred Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Melora Walters, and Aidan Gillen. Jacobs screenplay for The Lovers was nominated for a 2017 Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay.
Jacobs produced the pilot of Cherries, written/directed by Diaz Jacobs, which premiered in the episodic section of Sundance 2018.
In 2020, Jacobs' film French Exit had its world premiere as the closing night film for the New York Film Festival, 2020. It was based on a novel by Patrick deWitt of the same name. The film starred Michelle Pfeiffer alongside Lucas Hedges, Tracy Letts, Imogen Poots, Danielle McDonald, Isaach de Bankole, Valerie Mahaffey, Susan Coyne and Daniel Di Tomasso. Pfeiffer plays Francis Price, which Variety called "a role for which she'll be remembered."[10] It was nominated for multiple awards,[11] including a 2021 Golden Globe,[12] and won Best Actress from the Canadian Screen Awards.[13] Valerie Mahaffey was nominated for an 2021 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.
French Exit was released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics on February 12, 2021, and internationally by Sony Pictures Worldwide on March 18, 2021. French Exit was selected for the 71st Berlin Film Festival in Berlinale Special Gala, having its European premier on June 12, 2021.[14]
Azazel Jacobs appeared on Marc Maron's podcast, WTF with Marc Maron,[15] on March 29, 2021, speaking about art films, The Clash, Mad magazine, and his movies Terri, The Lovers and French Exit.
Other work edit
Jacobs directed two episodes of the Facebook series Sorry For Your Loss starring Elizabeth Olsen, and three episodes of Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle, for which he was a consulting producer in its final season.
Azazel recently completed directing the initial season of an eight-episode animated children's show, Fables, for Bron Entertainment.[16]
Filmography edit
Feature films edit
- Nobody Needs to Know (2003)
- The GoodTimesKid (2005)
- Momma's Man (2008)
- Terri (2011)
- The Lovers (2017)
- French Exit (2020)
- His Three Daughters (2023)
Short films edit
- Kirk and Kerry (1997)
- Danger 44 (1999)
- Dear Mexico (2000)
- Message Machine (2002)
- Oh Wee! (2003)
TV shows edit
- Doll & Em (2014)
- Mozart in the Jungle (2016)
- Sorry for Your Loss (2018)
- Cherries (2018)
Awards edit
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2012) |
- Jacobs' short film Kirk and Kerry won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Short at the Slamdance Film Festival.
- In 2008, Momma’s Man won the Kraków Film Award at the first annual Off Plus Camera[17] Film Festival.
- In 2011, Terri addition to receiving the Youth Jury Award at Locarno, Terri garnered both Gotham and Spirit Award nominations (Acting & Screenplay).[citation needed]
- In 2012, CinemaScope magazine cited Azazel as one of the 50 Best Directors Under 50.[citation needed]
- Momma’s Man was nominated for the Politiken's Audience Award at CPH PIX, the Grand Special Prize at the Deauville Film Festival, and for Best Feature Film Prize of the City of Torino at the Torino Film Festival. Momma's Man won the Distribution Award and FIPRESCI Award at the IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival and the Reader Jury of the "Standard" award at Viennale.
- Terri was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, for the Grand Special Prize at the Deauville Film Festival, and for Narrative Feature Jury Prize at the Sarasota Film Festival. Terri won the FIPRESCI[18] Award for Best Feature Film and was nominated in the Grand Prix Asturias for Best Film at the Gijón International Film Festival.Terri was nominated for a Golden Leopard and placed 3rd in the Junior Jury Awards at the Locarno International Film Festival.
- The Lovers was nominated for a Best Screenplay Independent Spirit Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and for Best Film in Official Competition at the London Film Festival.
- The Lovers screenplay was nominated for a 2018 Independent Spirit Award.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ "Azazel Jacobs". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.
- ^ Clarke, Cath (April 3, 2009). "First sight: Azazel Jacobs". 'The Guardian. UK. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ "October 17/18 – Ken Jacobs and Azazel Jacobs – Two Different Shows". Los Angeles Film Forum. October 12, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c Hynes, Eric (June 29, 2011). "Azazel Jacobs Doesn't Have to Be Cool Anymore". The Village Voice. New York City. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Cardace, Sara (January 23, 2008). "'Momma's Man' Director Azazel Jacobs on Sundance, Real Estate, and Living With His Parents". Vulture. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "Azazel Jacobs '94". State University of New York at Purchase. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Dawson, Nick (August 22, 2008). "Azazel Jacobs, Momma's Man". Filmmaker. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (August 21, 2008). "Back to the Womb to Discover Spirits of an Older, Nobler Age". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Brian (May 7, 2017). "'The Lovers' And 1979's 'Stalker' Lead Busy Weekend – Specialty Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (October 11, 2020). "'French Exit' Review: Michelle Pfeiffer Makes a Clean Break, Delivering a Role for Which She'll Be Remembered". Variety. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "French Exit - Cast | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "Winners & Nominees 2021". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees". Academy.ca. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "French Exit". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "Episode 1213 - Azazel Jacobs". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. March 29, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (July 8, 2020). "Bron Launches Virtual Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Camera", Wikipedia, March 1, 2020, retrieved August 13, 2020[circular reference]
- ^ "49th Gijón International Film Festival". Retrieved August 13, 2020.
External links edit
- Azazel Jacobs at IMDb