{{short description|American film producer, director, writer and artist}} {{Infobox person | name = Jeff Kaufman | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|07|06}} | occupation = Film producer, director and writer / artist | years_active = 1993{{ndash}}present | spouse = Marcia Ross | family = Richard C. Ross (father-in-law) | known_for = {{Unbulleted list|''Nasrin'' (2020)|''Every Act of Life'' (2018)|''The State of Marriage'' (2015)}} | website = {{URL|https://www.jeffkaufman.me}} }} '''Jeff Kaufman''' (born July 6, 1955) is an American film producer, director, writer, and artist.<ref name="amfm">{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Christine |title=Jeff Kaufman On Where We are, How We Got There, And Where We Need To Go From Here |url=https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/agliff-interview-state-of-marriages-jeff-kaufman-on-where-we-are-how-we-got-there-and-where-we-need-to-go-from-here/ |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=AMFM Magazine |date=2015-09-12 |archive-date=2019-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530203122/https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/agliff-interview-state-of-marriages-jeff-kaufman-on-where-we-are-how-we-got-there-and-where-we-need-to-go-from-here/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kaufman has produced, written, and directed documentaries focusing on human rights activism and cultural icons including ''The State of Marriage'', ''Every Act of Life'', and ''Nasrin''.
==Early life== Kaufman was born in Minnesota and raised in Bellevue, Washington. He dropped out of college and moved to New York City where he worked as a messenger for ''The New Yorker''.<ref name="cylindr"/> Kaufman contributed cartoons to ''The New Yorker'', as well as illustrations to ''The Los Angeles Times''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/175976195/|title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on March 25, 1990 · Page 3|website=Newspapers.com|date=25 March 1990 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/177416586/|title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on May 24, 1992 · Page 3|website=Newspapers.com|date=24 May 1992 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/177340466/|title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on December 13, 1992 · Page 3|website=Newspapers.com|date=13 December 1992 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> and ''The New York Times''. He also wrote for magazines and newspapers, and exhibited his paintings at art galleries.<ref name="pbs">{{cite news |last1=R |first1=Cindy |title=Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life ~ Director's Statement - Jeff Kaufman |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/terrence-mcnally-every-act-of-life-directors-statement-jeff-kaufman/11474/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=PBS |date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Kaufman hosted the radio talk show "The Talk of Vermont"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirkaldy |first1=Andy |title=New film highlights locals' role in nation's move to same-sex marriage |url=http://addisonindependent.com/201509new-film-highlights-locals-role-nations-move-same-sex-marriage |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=Addison County Independent |date=2015-09-10 |archive-date=2015-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225223639/http://www.addisonindependent.com/201509new-film-highlights-locals-role-nations-move-same-sex-marriage |url-status=dead }}</ref> in Vermont for five years<ref name="amfm"/> before moving to Los Angeles in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2000-pt11/html/CRECB-2000-pt11-Pg15994-2.htm|title=Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11 - A TRIBUTE TO ''TALK OF VERMONT'S'' JEFF KAUFMAN|website=www.govinfo.gov|access-date=2019-04-04}}</ref>
==Film career== ===2003–2012: Early works=== Kaufman directed and produced the Discovery Channel special ''WTC 9/11: Stories from the Ruins'', and episodes for ''Unsolved History'', a Discovery Channel documentary television series. In 2007, he produced ''Brush With Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman'', a documentary film which portrayed the life of modernist painter Edward Biberman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Christopher |title=Art Review |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-mar-04-et-biberman4-story.html |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=2009-03-04}}</ref>
In 2011, he produced ''Education Under Fire'', a documentary centered around the persecution of Baháʼís in Iran, in collaboration with Amnesty International.<ref>{{cite news |title=Film Review: A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS from Education Under Fire on Vimeo. |url=http://iranpresswatch.org/post/8974/a-voice-for-the-voiceless-from-education-under-fire-on-vimeo/ |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=Iran Press Watch |date=2012-05-26}}</ref> Kaufman's work on his next film, ''The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America,'' drew praise from critics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeFore |first1=John |title=The Savoy King: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/savoy-king-film-review-338277 |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2012-06-15}}</ref> The film included interviews with Frankie Manning, Van Alexander, Louie Bellson, Roy Haynes, and Norma Miller. It featured the voices of Billy Crystal, John Legend, Janet Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Ron Perlman, Tyne Daly, Andy Garcia, Danny Glover, Keith David, Eugene Robinson, and Charlie Watts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scheib |first1=Ronnie |title=The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/the-savoy-king-chick-webb-and-the-music-that-changed-america-1117948578/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Variety |date=17 October 2012}}</ref>
===2015–2018: ''The State of Marriage'' and ''Every Act of Life''=== In 2015, Kaufman directed, co-produced and wrote the critically acclaimed documentary film ''The State of Marriage'', about the same-sex marriage movement in Vermont.<ref>{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Loren |title=Provincetown film fest selections focus on foundations of marriage-equality movement |url=http://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2015/06/provincetown-film-fest-selections-focus-on-foundations-of-marriage-equality-movement/ |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=Boston Spirit Magazine |date=2015-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rooney |first1=David |title='The State of Marriage': Provincetown Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/state-marriage-provincetown-review-805014 |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2015-06-24}}</ref> Kaufman credited "countless examples of personal and political courage" that he witnessed during his stint as a radio host in Vermont as his inspiration to make the film.<ref>{{cite news |title='The State of Marriage' in Vermont: Two decades of progress |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/state-marriage-vermont-two-decades-progress |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=GLAAD |date=24 April 2014 |language=en}}</ref> His next film ''Father Joseph'' depicted the contributions of Haitian Catholic priest Joseph Philippe in the empowerment of Haitians living in poverty.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Althoff |first1=Eric |title=Rebuilding Haiti: Documentary 'Father Joseph' shows power of faith in restoring troubled nation |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/3/father-joseph-shows-faith-catholic-priest-helping-/ |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=The Washington Times |date=2016-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Father Joseph' documentary highlights work of Haitian priest Father Joseph Philippe |url=https://www.baystatebanner.com/2016/11/10/father-joseph-documentary-highlights-work-of-haitian-priest-father-joseph-philippe/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=The Bay State Banner |date=10 November 2016}}</ref>
In 2018, Kaufman wrote and directed ''Every Act of Life'', a documentary on the playwright and LGBT activist Terrence McNally, featuring F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Rita Moreno, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, and Patrick Wilson, with the voices of Bryan Cranston and Meryl Streep.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/every-act-life-touching-documentary-tony-winning-playwright-terrence-mcnally-1209765|title='Every Act' is a touching documentary on the life of Tony-winning playwright, librettist Terrence McNally|last=EST|first=Joe Westerfield On 11/12/18 at 4:14 PM|date=2018-11-12|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref> The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was screened at dozens of other film festivals. It was broadcast as part of the ''American Masters'' series on PBS<ref name="pbs"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Matthew |title='American Masters' Doc Reveals Impact Of Playwright Terrence McNally |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/terrence-mcnally-every-act-of-life-director-jeff-kaufman-pbs-documentary-interview-news-1202953388/ |accessdate=14 July 2020 |work=Deadline |date=2020-06-08}}</ref> and received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.<ref name="emmy">{{cite news |title=Jeff Kaufman |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/jeff-kaufman |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>
===2020–present: ''Nasrin'' and beyond=== In 2020, Kaufman produced a short documentary focusing on women's rights in Iran called ''40 Million: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Szal |first1=Roxy |title=Documenting the Feminist Movement's Struggle in Iran |url=https://msmagazine.com/2020/03/06/watch-documenting-the-feminist-movements-struggle-in-iran/ |accessdate=14 July 2020 |work=Ms Magazine |date=2020-03-06}}</ref> Later that year, he produced and directed ''Nasrin'', a documentary feature on Nasrin Sotoudeh and her fight for the rights of women, children and minorities in Iran. Narrated by Olivia Colman, the documentary was filmed secretly in Iran between late 2017 and mid 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Catsoulis |first1=Jeannette |title='Nasrin' Review: Righting Wrongs in Iran |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/movies/nasrin-review.html |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=17 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Daniels |first1=Robert |title=Nasrin movie review & film summary (2021) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nasrin-movie-review-2021 |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Roger Ebert |language=en}}</ref> It premiered at ''The Boston Globe'''s GlobeDocs Film Festival and was screened at dozens of film festivals, receiving positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nasrin - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nasrin/reviews?intcmp=rt-scorecard_tomatometer-reviews |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref> Kaufman said about Sotoudeh, "There’s a good reason Nasrin has been called 'The Nelson Mandela of Iran'. She has the same kind of determination, resilience and vision."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahdavi |first1=Pardis |title='Nasrin': Speaking to the World From a Prison in Iran |url=https://msmagazine.com/2020/10/01/nasrin-speaking-to-the-world-from-a-prison-in-iran/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Ms. Magazine |date=1 October 2020}}</ref> ''Nasrin'' was released on Hulu in June 2021 and nominated for Best Political Documentary at the 6th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.<ref name="ccaward">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Hilary |title='Summer of Soul' Sweeps Critics Choice Documentary Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/critics-choice-documentary-awards-2021-winners-list-1235047605/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
In 2023, Kaufman launched a button campaign called "I oppose the mandatory hijab" in solidarity with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. The project's partners included PEN America, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Parliamentarians for Global Action, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saranj |first1=Parisa |title='I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab' Button Campaign Puts Iranian Women's Rights Front and Center |url=https://msmagazine.com/2023/04/03/iran-women-hijab-headscarf-rights/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Ms. Magazine |date=3 April 2023}}</ref>
==Other work== ===Art=== Kaufman exhibited paintings in Los Angeles before becoming a filmmaker, and has continued to paint and exhibit. His artwork typically makes use of acrylic paint on wood, and involves the scraping down and reapplying of multiple thin layers of paint. His recent work comprises a series of paintings linked to one theme, such as the Nahua deity Tláloc, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Babi Yar massacres.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeff Kaufman |url=https://artprize.aestheticamagazine.com/projects/jeff-kaufman/ |website=Aesthetica Art Prize |access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Interview with Jeff Kaufman |url=https://www.contemporaryartcuratormagazine.com/home-2/jeff-kaufman |access-date=6 June 2024 |work=Contemporary Art Curator Magazine |date=10 January 2024}}</ref>
===Theatre=== Kaufman has written several full-length and short plays.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeff Kaufman |url=https://pwcenter.org/profile/jeff-kaufman |access-date=6 June 2024 |work=Playwrights' Center |language=en}}</ref> In March 2024, his play ''First Aid'' was a winner at the Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wild |first1=Stephi |title=Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival 2024 Winners Revealed |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Long-Beach-Playhouse-New-Works-Festival-2024-Winners-Revealed-20240307 |access-date=6 June 2024 |work=BroadwayWorld.com |date=7 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== [[File:Jeff Kaufman, Red Carpet.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross at the premiere of their film ''Every Act of Life'' at the Tribeca Film Festival.]] Kaufman is married to Marcia Ross, a casting director and documentary producer, with whom he has produced six documentary films.<ref name="cylindr">{{cite news |last1=Pates |first1=Michael |title=Interview with Jeff Kaufman |url=https://cylindrmag.substack.com/p/interview-with-jeff-kaufman |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=Cylindr |language=en}}</ref> He has two children–Anna Kaufman and Daniel Kaufman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anchor Launches a Line of Hardcover Books |url=https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/anchor-launches-a-line-of-hardcover-books/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=penguinrandomhouse.com}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class=wikitable ! Year !! Film !! Credits |- | 2020 || ''Nasrin'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2020 || ''40 Million: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2018 || ''Every Act of Life'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2015 || ''Father Joseph'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2015 || ''The State of Marriage'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2012 || ''The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2011 || ''Education Under Fire'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2010 || ''Free Shane and Josh'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2007 || ''Brush with Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2005 || ''Unsolved History: The Hope Diamond'' || director, producer |- | 2004 || ''Unsolved History: Hunting Nazis'' || director, producer |- | 2003 || ''WTC 9/11: Stories from the Ruins'' || writer, director, producer |- | 2003 || ''The Last Mission'' || associate producer |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !scope="col"| Year !scope="col"| Award !scope="col"| Category !scope="col"| Work !scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- |2015 |GlobeDocs Film Festival |Audience Award |''The State of Marriage'' |{{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Meredith |title=GlobeDocs festival closes with ‘Fastball’ at Fenway - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/10/11/fastball-screens-fenway-park/Ljo8rtcDlLQ7VIioA2cV4J/story.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=BostonGlobe.com |date=12 October 2015}}</ref> |- |2018 |Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival |Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature |''Every Act of Life'' |{{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous Winners of the Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Awards |url=https://tiglff.com/festival-awards/past-award-winners/ |website=TIGLFF |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> |- |2020 |Emmy Awards |Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series |''American Masters'' |{{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="emmy"/> |- |rowspan=3|2021 |Critics' Choice Documentary Awards |Best Political Documentary |rowspan=3|''Nasrin'' |{{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="ccaward"/> |- |Cinema for Peace Awards |Award for Women’s Empowerment |{{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Awards 2021 |url=https://www.cinemaforpeace-foundation.org/awards-2021 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Cinema for Peace Foundation}}</ref> |- |{{ill|Terra di Tutti Film Festival|it}} |The Voices of Invisible Women Award |{{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Nasrin |url=https://www.terradituttifilmfestival.stream/film/nasrin-2/ |website=www.terradituttifilmfestival.stream |publisher=Terra di tutti film festival |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://www.jeffkaufman.me}} * {{IMDb name|nm2614650}} * [https://floatingworldpictures.com/ Floating World Pictures]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaufman, Jeff}} Category:Living people Category:1955 births Category:American documentary film producers Category:American documentary film directors Category:American talk radio hosts