Valerie Faris

Valerie Faris
Brad Smith · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Valerie Faris
Birth date	1958
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Director, music video director, film director, television director, producer
Years active	1980s–present
Spouse	Jonathan Dayton

Valerie Faris is an American director and producer known for her work in music videos, feature films, and television. She rose to prominence directing award-winning music videos and, with longtime collaborator Jonathan Dayton, co-directed acclaimed films and television episodes. Faris's career spans collaborations with major artists, studios, festivals, and award institutions, establishing her as a notable figure in contemporary American filmmaking.

Early life and education

Valerie Faris was born in Los Angeles and raised in Southern California, where her upbringing intersected with cultural centers such as Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Getty Center, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and nearby institutions. She pursued studies that led her toward visual arts and filmmaking, attending programs connected to institutions like California Institute of the Arts, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and regional colleges. Early influences included exhibitions and events at Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, screenings at the Sundance Film Festival, retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art, and music scenes anchored by venues such as the Roxy Theatre and Whisky a Go Go.

Career

Faris began her career directing music videos and short-form work for artists associated with labels and companies such as Geffen Records, Warner Bros. Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Interscope Records, and Capitol Records. Her early video work placed her alongside directors and creatives linked to MTV, VH1, Rolling Stone, NME, and Spin (magazine). She collaborated with cinematographers, editors, and producers who had worked on projects for studios including Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Columbia Pictures, and Focus Features. Over time, her credits expanded into television and feature production with ties to companies like HBO, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Hulu, and ABC.

Her commercial directing work involved ad campaigns associated with brands and agencies such as Nike, Apple Inc., Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Sony Corporation, Adidas, McDonald's, Saatchi & Saatchi, Wieden+Kennedy, TBWA\Chiat\Day, and BBDO. Faris's aesthetic drew attention from festival programmers at Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and producers connected to Sundance Institute and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Collaboration with Jonathan Dayton

Valerie Faris has a longstanding creative partnership with director-producer Jonathan Dayton. The duo co-directed music videos for artists signed to labels like Elektra Records, Atlantic Records, Sub Pop Records, 4AD, and Matador Records, and worked with bands associated with scenes around Seattle, New York City, Nashville, Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles. Their joint feature debut involved talent connected to actors and filmmakers linked with Focus Features, Paramount Classics, Miramax, Lionsgate, and independent production companies. Together they navigated studio relationships with executives from Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and distribution platforms such as Sony Pictures Classics.

Dayton and Faris co-directed a breakout feature that brought them into conversations with creatives from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Golden Globe Awards, and critics from outlets like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Variety (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly. Their collaborative work extended into television episodes and limited series for networks and streamers including HBO, Netflix, Apple TV+, and FX.

Filmography

Faris's filmography includes music videos, feature films, television episodes, and short films. Her music video credits feature artists associated with R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Nine Inch Nails, John Mayer, Elliott Smith, Beck Hansen, The Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis (band), Sonic Youth, Radiohead, The White Stripes, DJ Shadow, Lady Gaga, Adele, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Green Day, No Doubt, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Interpol, Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Blink-182, Sting (musician), Paul McCartney, Madonna (entertainer), Prince (musician), David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Queen (band), The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Björk, Madness (band). Her feature film credits with Dayton include projects starring actors from ensembles featuring members of Academy Award nominees and winners, and crews associated with cinematographers from American Society of Cinematographers productions.

Television directing credits include episodes tied to series on HBO, Showtime, AMC, FX, NBC, CBS, ABC, and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. She has contributed to anthology and limited series that screened at festivals like South by Southwest and Tribeca Film Festival.

Awards and recognition

Faris's work has received awards and nominations from institutions including the MTV Video Music Awards, Grammy Awards, Directors Guild of America, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Independent Spirit Awards, and juries at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Critics and trade publications such as Variety (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, and NME have profiled her career. Her films and videos have been showcased at Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival.

Personal life

Valerie Faris lives and works in the Los Angeles area and maintains creative and personal partnerships connected to directors, producers, actors, and musicians from hubs such as New York City, London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney, and Mumbai. She is married to Jonathan Dayton; their household and collaborations intersect with organizations including Directors Guild of America, Producer's Guild of America, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and various charity and arts organizations.

Category:American film directors Category:American music video directors Category:People from Los Angeles County, California