
Jem Cohen
Biography
Born in Afghanistan, Jem Cohen is an American experimental filmmaker and photographer, especially known for his observational portraits of urban landscapes, blending of media formats, and collaborations with musicians.
Cohen has worked extensively with musicians including Patti Smith, Fugazi, Terry Riley, R.E.M., Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Xylouris White, DJ Rupture, the Ex, Elliott Smith, Vic Chesnutt, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Matana Roberts, Jessica Moss, Jonathan Richman, T.Griffin/Catherine McRae, White Magic, and the Orpheus Orchestra with Gil Shaham, and has collaborated with writers Luc Sante and Sam Stephenson, and graphic artist Ben Katchor.
Acting (1 movie)
Directing (62 movies)

Instrument
1999

Benjamin Smoke
2000

Museum Hours
2012

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait
1997
Little Flags
2000

Amber City
1999
Or Nothing (The Double)
2022

Ballad of Philip Guston
2022

Chain
2004

Lost Book Found
1996

Drink Deep
1991
Anne Truitt, Working
2010
Museum
1997

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin
2008

This Is a History of New York
1987
Blessed Are the Dreams of Men
2006
Building a Broken Mousetrap
2006

Buried in Light
1994
Black Hole Radio
1992

Just Hold Still
1989

The Film That Buys the Cinema
2014

Counting
2015
Blood Orange Sky
1999

NYC Weights and Measures
2018

Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse
2001

4:44 (from her house home)
1989
Le bled (Buildings in a Field)
2009

Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street
2011

Helianthus Corner Blues
2013

Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
2007

20 Little Films
2012

World Without End (No Reported Incidents)
2016

Bury Me Not
2016

Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo
2010

Birth of a Nation
2017

The Foxx and Little Vic
2002

R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)
2003
R.E.M. - This Film Is On
1991
Peter Hutton
2016

Night Scene New York
2009
Sketches for Late City Final
1991

This Climate
2018
Light Years
1989

On Essex Road
2016

Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York)
2009

Little, Big, and Far
2024

Glueman
1989

Makeshift (for Mekas)
2019

free
2007

Nightswimming
1995
Half The Battle
2008
Chinatown Film Project
2009
Robert and June (Cape Breton and NYC)
2024
June Leaf
2024
We Have an Anchor
2015
MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)
2018

The Passage Clock: For Walter Benjamin
2008

Nice Evening, Transmission Down
2001

Vox Populi
2018

Opened Ending
2020
Tree Song
2019
Aerie
2024
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait | 1997 | Producer |
| Chain | 2004 | Writer |
| Chain | 2004 | Producer |
| Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin | 2008 | Producer |
| Museum Hours | 2012 | Screenplay |
| Museum Hours | 2012 | Producer |
| Counting | 2015 | Producer |
| Little, Big, and Far | 2024 | Writer |
| Little, Big, and Far | 2024 | Producer |