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.

Most Famous Work

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7

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At Close Range

(1986) Assistant Property Master

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7

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Matewan

(1987) Assistant Property Master

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7

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Museum Hours

(2012) Screenplay

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7

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Instrument

(1999) Director

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8

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Counting

(2015) Sound Designer

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4

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Benjamin Smoke

(2000) Director

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6

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Chain

(2004) Writer

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0

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Chinatown Film Project

(2009) Director

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Acting

Year	Character	Movie/Tv
1989	Narrator	4:44 (from her house home) 1989-01-01 Movie
Year	Character	Movie/Tv

Directing

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2022	Director	Ballad of Philip Guston 2022-10-29 Movie
	Director	Or Nothing (The Double) 2022-10-29 Movie
2019	Director	Makeshift (for Mekas) 2019-05-25 Movie
2018	Director	NYC Weights and Measures 2018-09-21 Movie
	Director	This Climate 2018-04-07 Movie
2017	Director	Birth of a Nation 2017-02-20 Movie
2016	Director	World Without End (No Reported Incidents) 2016-10-31 Movie
	Director	Bury Me Not 2016-01-01 Movie
	Director	Peter Hutton 2016-01-01 Movie
	Director	On Essex Road 2016-01-01 Movie
2015	Director	Counting 2015-07-31 Movie
2014	Director	The Film That Buys the Cinema 2014-10-14 Movie
2013	Director	Helianthus Corner Blues 2013-01-01 Movie
2012	Director	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
2011	Director	Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street 2011-09-15 Movie
2010	Director	Anne Truitt, Working 2010-01-15 Movie
	Director	Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo 2010-01-01 Movie
2009	Director	Chinatown Film Project 2009-07-01 Movie
	Director	Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York) 2009-05-04 Movie
	Director	Le bled (Buildings in a Field) 2009-01-01 Movie
	Director	Night Scene New York 2009-01-01 Movie
2008	Director	Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin 2008-03-21 Movie
	Director	Half The Battle 2008-01-01 Movie
2007	Director	A Tale of Two Cities 2007-10-19 Movie
	Director	free 2007-05-25 Movie
	Director	Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit) 2007-04-27 Movie
2006	Director	Building a Broken Mousetrap 2006-03-21 Movie
	Director	Blessed Are the Dreams of Men 2006-03-21 Movie
2004	Director	Chain 2004-08-22 Movie
2003	Director	R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.) 2003-10-23 Movie
2002	Director	The Foxx and Little Vic 2002-11-19 Movie
2001	Director	Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse 2001-10-26 Movie
2000	Director	Benjamin Smoke 2000-09-13 Movie
	Director	Little Flags 2000-08-12 Movie
1999	Director	Instrument 1999-03-01 Movie
	Director	Amber City 1999-01-01 Movie
	Director	Blood Orange Sky 1999-01-01 Movie
1997	Director	Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait 1997-07-08 Movie
	Director	Museum 1997-06-27 Movie
1996	Director	Lost Book Found 1996-06-11 Movie
1995	Director	Nightswimming 1995-02-01 Movie
1994	Director	Buried in Light 1994-03-21 Movie
1992	Director	Black Hole Radio 1992-09-26 Movie
1991	Director	REM: This Film Is On 1991-09-24 Movie
	Director	Drink Deep 1991-09-19 Movie
1989	Director	Just Hold Still 1989-03-21 Movie
	Director	Light Years 1989-01-01 Movie
	Director	Glueman 1989-01-01 Movie
	Director	4:44 (from her house home) 1989-01-01 Movie
1987	Director	This Is a History of New York 1987-03-21 Movie
	Director	Sketches for Late City Final Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Crew

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2019	Cinematography	Makeshift (for Mekas) 2019-05-25 Movie
2015	Cinematography	Counting 2015-07-31 Movie
2008	Cinematography	Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin 2008-03-21 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Editing

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2019	Editor	Makeshift (for Mekas) 2019-05-25 Movie
2015	Editor	Counting 2015-07-31 Movie
2012	Editor	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
2008	Editor	Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin 2008-03-21 Movie
2004	Editor	Chain 2004-08-22 Movie
1997	Editor	Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait 1997-07-08 Movie
1992	Editor	Black Hole Radio 1992-09-26 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Production

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2015	Producer	Counting 2015-07-31 Movie
2012	Producer	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
2008	Producer	Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin 2008-03-21 Movie
2004	Producer	Chain 2004-08-22 Movie
1997	Producer	Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait 1997-07-08 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Sound

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2015	Sound Designer	Counting 2015-07-31 Movie
2012	Sound Designer	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
1992	Sound Editor	Black Hole Radio 1992-09-26 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Camera

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2012	Director of Photography	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
2004	Director of Photography	Chain 2004-08-22 Movie
1999	Director of Photography	Instrument 1999-03-01 Movie
1997	Camera Operator	Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait 1997-07-08 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Writing

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2012	Screenplay	Museum Hours 2012-08-08 Movie
2004	Writer	Chain 2004-08-22 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Art

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
1987	Assistant Property Master	Matewan 1987-08-28 Movie
1986	Assistant Property Master	At Close Range 1986-04-18 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv