Jem Cohen

Jem Cohen

Directing

January 1, 1962Kabul, Afghanistan

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.

Known for

At Close Range

1986

Matewan

Matewan

1987

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Instrument

Instrument

1999

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Chain

Chain

2004

Counting

Counting

2015

Benjamin Smoke

Benjamin Smoke

2000

Lost Book Found

Lost Book Found

1996

Amber City

Amber City

1999

Directing65

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Director

Robert and June (and All the Time in the World)

Robert and June (and All the Time in the World)

2025

Director

Aerie

Aerie

2024

Director

Robert and June (Cape Breton and NYC)

Robert and June (Cape Breton and NYC)

2024

Director

June Leaf

2024

Director

Ballad of Philip Guston

Ballad of Philip Guston

2022

Director

Or Nothing (The Double)

Or Nothing (The Double)

2022

Director

Opened Ending

Opened Ending

2020

Director

Tree Song

2019

Director

Makeshift (for Mekas)

Makeshift (for Mekas)

2019

Director

Vox Populi

Vox Populi

2018

Director

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

2018

Director

NYC Weights and Measures

NYC Weights and Measures

2018

Director

This Climate

This Climate

2018

Director

Birth of a Nation

Birth of a Nation

2017

Director

World Without End (No Reported Incidents)

World Without End (No Reported Incidents)

2016

Director

Bury Me Not

Bury Me Not

2016

Director

Peter Hutton

2016

Director

On Essex Road

On Essex Road

2016

Director

Counting

Counting

2015

Director

We Have an Anchor

We Have an Anchor

2015

Director

The Film That Buys the Cinema

The Film That Buys the Cinema

2014

Director

Helianthus Corner Blues

Helianthus Corner Blues

2013

Director

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Director

20 Little Films

20 Little Films

2012

Director

Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street

Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street

2011

Director

Real Birds

Real Birds

2011

Director

Anne Truitt, Working

Anne Truitt, Working

2010

Director

Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo

Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo

2010

Director

Chinatown Film Project

Chinatown Film Project

2009

Director

Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York)

Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York)

2009

Director

Le bled (Buildings in a Field)

Le bled (Buildings in a Field)

2009

Director

Night Scene New York

Night Scene New York

2009

Director

The Passage Clock: For Walter Benjamin

The Passage Clock: For Walter Benjamin

2008

Director

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

2008

Director

Half The Battle

Half The Battle

2008

Director

free

free

2007

Director

Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit)

Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit)

2007

Director

Building a Broken Mousetrap

Building a Broken Mousetrap

2006

Director

Blessed are the Dreams of Men

Blessed are the Dreams of Men

2006

Director

Chain

Chain

2004

Director

R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)

R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)

2003

Director

The Foxx and Little Vic

The Foxx and Little Vic

2002

Director

Nice Evening, Transmission Down

Nice Evening, Transmission Down

2001

Director

Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse

Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse

2001

Director

Benjamin Smoke

Benjamin Smoke

2000

Director

Little Flags

2000

Director

Instrument

Instrument

1999

Director

Amber City

Amber City

1999

Director

Blood Orange Sky

Blood Orange Sky

1999

Director

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Director

Museum

1997

Director

Lost Book Found

Lost Book Found

1996

Director

Nightswimming

Nightswimming

1995

Director

Buried in Light

Buried in Light

1994

Director

Black Hole Radio

Black Hole Radio

1992

Director

R.E.M. - This Film Is On

R.E.M. - This Film Is On

1991

Director

Drink Deep

Drink Deep

1991

Director

Sketches for Late City Final

Sketches for Late City Final

1991

Director

Just Hold Still

Just Hold Still

1989

Director

4:44 (from her house home)

4:44 (from her house home)

1989

Director

Light Years

1989

Director

Glueman

Glueman

1989

Director

This Is a History of New York

This Is a History of New York

1987

Director

Gravity Hill Newsreels-Bella ciao

Gravity Hill Newsreels-Bella ciao

Director

Editing10

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Editor

Makeshift (for Mekas)

Makeshift (for Mekas)

2019

Editor

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

2018

Editor

Counting

Counting

2015

Editor

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Editor

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

2008

Editor

Chain

Chain

2004

Editor

Instrument

Instrument

1999

Editor

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Editor

Black Hole Radio

Black Hole Radio

1992

Editor

Camera6

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Director of Photography

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful)

2018

Director of Photography

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Director of Photography

Chain

Chain

2004

Director of Photography

Instrument

Instrument

1999

Director of Photography

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Camera Operator

Production6

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Producer

Counting

Counting

2015

Producer

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Producer

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

2008

Producer

Chain

Chain

2004

Producer

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait

1997

Producer

Sound4

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Sound

Counting

Counting

2015

Sound Designer

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Sound Designer

Black Hole Radio

Black Hole Radio

1992

Sound Editor

Crew3

Makeshift (for Mekas)

Makeshift (for Mekas)

2019

Cinematography

Counting

Counting

2015

Cinematography

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin

2008

Cinematography

Writing3

Little, Big, and Far

Little, Big, and Far

2026

Writer

Museum Hours

Museum Hours

2012

Writer

Chain

Chain

2004

Writer

Art2

Matewan

Matewan

1987

Assistant Property Master

At Close Range

1986

Assistant Property Master

Acting1

4:44 (from her house home)

4:44 (from her house home)

1989

Narrator