Benny Safdie

Benny Safdie
Harald Krichel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Benny Safdie
Birth date	24 February 1986
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Filmmaker, actor, editor
Years active	2007–present
Spouse	Ava Safdie, 2017
Relatives	Josh Safdie (brother)

Benny Safdie. He is an American filmmaker, actor, and editor, best known as one half of the Safdie brothers filmmaking duo alongside his older brother Josh Safdie. Renowned for crafting high-intensity, naturalistic cinéma vérité-inspired films, his work often explores themes of addiction, desperation, and life on the fringes of New York City. Beyond co-directing, he frequently contributes as a co-writer, editor, and actor in their projects, and has also pursued significant independent acting roles in major studio films.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Manhattan, he is the son of Amy Kellman, a former gallery employee, and Alberto Safdie, a Sephardic Jewish immigrant from Syria who worked in the fashion industry. He and his brother were exposed to New York City's vibrant street life from a young age, an influence deeply reflected in their later cinematic work. He attended the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan before enrolling at Boston University, where he initially studied history but left before graduating to pursue filmmaking full-time alongside his brother.

Career

His career began with the brothers' early collaborative works, including the documentary The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2007) and the fiction feature Daddy Longlegs (2009), which established their raw, immersive style. Major breakthrough came with the tense thriller Good Time (2017), starring Robert Pattinson, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned critical acclaim for its frenetic energy. This was followed by the even more successful Uncut Gems (2019), a crime thriller featuring Adam Sandler in a critically lauded dramatic performance that became a major cultural phenomenon. As an actor, he has appeared in projects by other directors, including a notable role in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023) and a lead part in the series The Curse (2023), created with Nathan Fielder. He also co-created the HBO series God Save Texas and continues to develop projects both within and outside the partnership with his brother.

Filmography

A selective list of his prominent credits includes co-directing, co-writing, and editing Heaven Knows What (2014), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. He served in multiple key roles on Good Time and Uncut Gems, both of which were selected for the Cannes Film Festival and distributed by A24. His acting roles extend to appearing in Pieces of a Woman (2020), Licorice Pizza (2021), and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023). He also co-directed the 2020 music video for The Weeknd's song "In Your Eyes."

Personal life

He married Ava Safdie in 2017, and the couple has one child together, residing in New York City. His creative partnership with his brother Josh Safdie remains the central pillar of his professional life, though both have expressed interest in pursuing solo projects. He is an avid fan of the NBA and New York Knicks, with the sport's tension and narrative often influencing the pacing of his films.

Awards and nominations

His work on Uncut Gems earned him nominations for Best Director from the Independent Spirit Awards and the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film. The film itself won the National Board of Review Award for Best Film. For Good Time, he and his brother won the Best Soundtrack Award at the Cannes Film Festival. His performance in Oppenheimer contributed to the film's win for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards.

Category:American film directors Category:American male actors Category:American film editors Category:People from Manhattan Category:Safdie brothers Category:1986 births Category:Living people