Azazel Jacobs

Azazel Jacobs
Jacobs in 2017
Born (1972-09-27) September 27, 1972 (age 52)
Alma materState University of New York at Purchase
AFI Conservatory
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1997–present
RelativesKen Jacobs (father)

Azazel Jacobs (born September 27, 1972)[1] is an American film director and screenwriter. He is the son of experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs.[2][3] His short films include Kirk and Kerry (1997) and Message Machine (2002), and his features include well reviewed The GoodTimesKid (2005), Momma's Man (2008), Terri (2011), The Lovers (2017), French Exit (2020), and His Three Daughters (2023).

Biography

Jacobs grew up in a Jewish family in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.[4] He attended Bayard Rustin High School.[5] He received a bachelor's degree in film from SUNY Purchase and a master's degree from the AFI Conservatory.[6][7] As of 2011, Jacobs lives in Los Angeles.[5]

Career

His feature The Goodtimeskid (2005), a micro-budget film, gained a cult following and was later re-released by KINO International. Jacobs film Momma’s Man premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2008.[8] Upon its release by KINO International, The New York Times declared the film to be "Independent Film defined."[9] In 2011, Jacobs film Terri starring John C. Reilly, was written by Patrick deWitt, premiered in competition at Sundance and in competition internationally at Locarno & the BFI London Film Festival’s "Film On The Square."[5]

During 2014 and 2015, Jacobs directed the two seasons of the SKY/HBO show, Doll & Em. He also worked as a writer and producer. In 2017, Jacobs wrote and directed the film The Lovers which was released by A24 to top specialty box office.[10] The film starred Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Melora Walters, and Aidan Gillen. Jacobs’ screenplay for The Lovers was nominated for a 2017 Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. Jacobs produced the pilot of Cherries, written/directed by Diaz Jacobs, which premiered in the episodic section of Sundance 2018.[11]

In 2020, Jacobs’ film French Exit had its world premiere as the closing night film for the New York Film Festival. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Patrick deWitt and stars Michelle Pfeiffer alongside Lucas Hedges, Tracy Letts, Imogen Poots, Danielle McDonald, Isaach de Bankole, Valerie Mahaffey, Susan Coyne and Daniel Di Tomasso. Pfeiffer plays Francis Price, which Variety called "a role for which she'll be remembered."[12] It was nominated for multiple awards,[13] including a 2021 Golden Globe,[14] and won Best Actress from the Canadian Screen Awards.[15] The film was released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics on February 12, 2021, and internationally by Sony Pictures Worldwide on March 18, 2021. French Exit was selected for the 71st Berlin Film Festival in Berlinale Special Gala, having its European premier on June 12, 2021.[16]

Azazel Jacobs latest film, “His Three Daughters”, had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival where it was purchased by Netflix in a world wide deal for a 2024 release. The film — which he wrote, directed, edited, and produced — stars Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon in performances that have been widely hailed as amongst their best.

Azazel Jacobs appeared on Marc Maron's podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, on March 29, 2021, speaking about art films, The Clash, Mad magazine, and his movies Terri, The Lovers and French Exit. Jacobs directed two episodes of the Facebook series Sorry For Your Loss starring Elizabeth Olsen, and three episodes of Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle, for which he was a consulting producer in its final season.[17]

On April 19, 2024, an official remake of The Lovers, “Do Aur Do Pyaar”, told from a different perspective and different culture, was released in theaters across India. This production also marks the first remake of an A24 film.

Filmography

Films

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes Ref.
1997 Kirk and Kerry Yes No No Short film
1999 Danger 44 Yes No No Short film
2000 Dear Mexico Yes No No Short film
2002 Message Machine Yes No No Short film
2003 Oh Wee! Yes No No Short film
2003 Nobody Needs to Know Yes Yes Yes Feature film debut [18]
2005 The GoodTimesKid Yes Yes No [19]
2008 Momma's Man Yes Yes No [20]
2011 Terri Yes Yes No [21]
2017 The Lovers Yes Yes No [22]
2020 French Exit Yes No Executive [23]
2023 His Three Daughters Yes Yes Yes [24]

Television

Year Title Director Writer Producer Network Notes Ref.
2013–2015 Doll & Em Yes Yes Co-Producer Sky Atlantic / HBO 12 episodes [25]
2016–2018 Mozart in the Jungle Yes No Consulting Amazon Prime Video 3 episodes [26]
2018–2019 Sorry for Your Loss Yes No No Facebook Watch 2 episodes [27]

Recognition

In 2012, CinemaScope magazine cited Azazel as one of the 50 Best Directors Under 50.[28]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
1997 Slamdance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Short Kirk and Kerry Won [29]
2008 Off Plus Camera Kraków Film Award Momma’s Man Won [30]
Torino Film Festival Best Feature Film Prize Nominated
Deauville Film Festival Grand Special Prize Nominated [31]
2011 Terri Nominated [32]
Gijón International Film Festival Grand Prix Nominated [33]
Locarno Film Festival Junior Jury Award 3rd place [34]
Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Nominated [35]
Sarasota Film Festival Narrative Feature Jury Prize Nominated [36]
2017 Independent Spirit Award Best Screenplay The Lovers Nominated [37]
London Film Festival Official Competition Nominated [38]

References

  1. ^ "Azazel Jacobs". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.
  2. ^ Clarke, Cath (April 3, 2009). "First sight: Azazel Jacobs". 'The Guardian. UK. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  3. ^ "October 17/18 – Ken Jacobs and Azazel Jacobs – Two Different Shows". Los Angeles Film Forum. October 12, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Cardace, Sara (January 23, 2008). "'Momma's Man' Director Azazel Jacobs on Sundance, Real Estate, and Living With His Parents". Vulture. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Hynes, Eric (June 29, 2011). "Azazel Jacobs Doesn't Have to Be Cool Anymore". The Village Voice. New York City. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Azazel Jacobs '94". State University of New York at Purchase. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Dawson, Nick (August 22, 2008). "Azazel Jacobs, Momma's Man". Filmmaker. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Sundance 2008: Momma's Man". IndieWire. January 24, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Dargis, Manohla (August 21, 2008). "Back to the Womb to Discover Spirits of an Older, Nobler Age". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  10. ^ Brooks, Brian (May 7, 2017). "'The Lovers' And 1979's 'Stalker' Lead Busy Weekend – Specialty Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES INDIE EPISODIC, SHORTS & SPECIAL EVENT SELECTIONS FOR 2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL - sundance.org". December 4, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Debruge, Peter (October 11, 2020). "'French Exit' Review: Michelle Pfeiffer Makes a Clean Break, Delivering a Role for Which She'll Be Remembered". Variety. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "French Exit - Cast | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2021". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "2021 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees". Academy.ca. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "French Exit". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  17. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (July 8, 2020). "Bron Launches Virtual Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  18. ^ "Nobody Needs To Know". Variety. February 18, 2003. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "The GoodTimesKid (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Momma's Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Terri (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Lovers (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "French Exit (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "His Three Daughters (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "Azazel Jacobs on His New HBO Series with Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells, Doll and Em". Filmmaker Magazine. March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "Mozart in the Jungle - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "'Sorry for Your Loss': TV Review TIFF 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. September 8, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  28. ^ "50 Best FIlmmakers Under 50 Archives". Cinema Scope. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  29. ^ "Slamdance Film Festival (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  30. ^ "International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Camera", Wikipedia, March 1, 2020, retrieved August 13, 2020[circular reference]
  31. ^ "Deauville lines up eclectic competition". Variety. August 22, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  32. ^ "Deauville sets competition". Variety. August 17, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "49th Gijón International Film Festival". Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  34. ^ "2011". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Sundance 2011 First Look: John C. Reilly In 'Terri'". Slashfilm. December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  36. ^ "Sarasota opens on 'Page One'". Variety. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  37. ^ Sharf, Zack (November 21, 2017). "2018 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 'Get Out' and 'Call Me by Your Name' Dominate". IndieWire. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  38. ^ "61st BFI London Film Festival programme announced". British Film Institute. November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2024.