Josh Safdie

Josh Safdie (born April 10, 1984) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his intense, character-driven crime thrillers, often created in collaboration with his brother Benny Safdie. Born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, New York City, Safdie developed an early interest in filmmaking and later attended the College of Communication at Boston University. He frequently works with his brother Benny, and their shared approach has produced some of the most acclaimed independent films of recent years.

Safdie first gained attention on the international film festival circuit with his early features, including ''The Pleasure of Being Robbed'' (2008) and ''Daddy Longlegs'' (2009), the latter co-directed and co-written with his brother. He continued to build his reputation with ''Lenny Cooke'' (2013), a documentary, and ''Heaven Knows What'' (2014), a gritty drama. The Safdie brothers achieved widespread critical and commercial success with ''Good Time'' (2017), starring Robert Pattinson, and ''Uncut Gems'' (2019), featuring Adam Sandler in a critically lauded performance. These films, known for their frenetic pacing, raw energy, and deep immersion in New York City's underbelly, established them as distinctive voices in contemporary American cinema.

Josh Safdie was born Joshua Henry Safdie on April 3, 1984, in New York City. He is of Syrian-Jewish descent through his father, Alberto Safdie, who was born in Italy, raised in France, and worked in New York's Diamond District, and of Russian-Jewish descent through his mother, Amy Safdie.

Safdie is Jewish, of mixed Sephardi and Ashkenazi heritage. His father, Alberto Safdie, is of Syrian Jewish descent and was raised in France and Italy. His mother, Amy Safdie (née Neimeth), is of Ashkenazi Jewish background with Russian Jewish and Austrian Jewish ancestry. His great-uncle is the renowned architect Moshe Safdie.