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 |