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.
Full Filmography
Directing
This Is a History of New York
(1987)
Director
Just Hold Still
(1989)
Director
Light Years
(1989)
Director
Glueman
(1989)
Director
4:44 (from her house home)
(1989)
Director
Drink Deep
(1991)
Director
REM: This Film Is On
(1991)
Director
Black Hole Radio
(1992)
Director
Buried in Light
(1994)
Director
Nightswimming
(1995)
Director
Lost Book Found
(1996)
Director
Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait
(1997)
Director
Museum
(1997)
Director
Instrument
(1999)
Director
Amber City
(1999)
Director
Blood Orange Sky
(1999)
Director
Benjamin Smoke
(2000)
Director
Little Flags
(2000)
Director
Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse
(2001)
Director
The Foxx and Little Vic
(2002)
Director
R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)
(2003)
Director
Chain
(2004)
Director
Building a Broken Mousetrap
(2006)
Director
Blessed Are the Dreams of Men
(2006)
Director
Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
(2007)
Director
free
(2007)
Director
A Tale of Two Cities
(2007)
Director
Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin
(2008)
Director
Half The Battle
(2008)
Director
Le bled (Buildings in a Field)
(2009)
Director
Night Scene New York
(2009)
Director
Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York)
(2009)
Director
Chinatown Film Project
(2009)
Director
Anne Truitt, Working
(2010)
Director
Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo
(2010)
Director
Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street
(2011)
Director
Museum Hours
(2012)
Director
20 Little Films
(2012)
Director
Helianthus Corner Blues
(2013)
Director
The Film That Buys the Cinema
(2014)
Director
Counting
(2015)
Director
World Without End (No Reported Incidents)
(2016)
Director
Bury Me Not
(2016)
Director
Peter Hutton
(2016)
Director
On Essex Road
(2016)
Director
Birth of a Nation
(2017)
Director
NYC Weights and Measures
(2018)
Director
This Climate
(2018)
Director
Makeshift (for Mekas)
(2019)
Director
Ballad of Philip Guston
(2022)
Director
Or Nothing (The Double)
(2022)
Director
Acting
Art
Sound
Black Hole Radio
(1992)
Sound Editor
Museum Hours
(2012)
Sound Designer
Counting
(2015)
Sound Designer
Editing
Black Hole Radio
(1992)
Editor
Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait
(1997)
Editor
Instrument
(1999)
Editor
Chain
(2004)
Editor
Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin
(2008)
Editor
Museum Hours
(2012)
Editor
Counting
(2015)
Editor
Makeshift (for Mekas)
(2019)
Editor
Production
Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait
(1997)
Producer
Chain
(2004)
Producer
Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin
(2008)
Producer
Museum Hours
(2012)
Producer
Counting
(2015)
Producer
Camera
Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait
(1997)
Camera Operator
Instrument
(1999)
Director of Photography
Chain
(2004)
Director of Photography
Museum Hours
(2012)
Director of Photography
Writing
Crew