Benny Safdie

Performer

Benny Safdie

Director in the Nutevio catalogue.

Born
24 February 1986
Age
40
Active
2015 — 2025
Known for
Question & Answer, Good Time, Uncut Gems
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The essay

Reading Benny Safdie

Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.

Why this filmmaker matters

Benny Safdie has 0 directed films in the Nutevio catalogue. Benjamin Safdie (born February 24, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, and editor best known for his collaborations with his older brother, Josh Safdie. Together, the Safdie brothers have established themselves as leading voices in contemporary independent cinema with acclaimed films such as Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). In addition to directing, Benny has pursued a parallel career as an actor. His performance in Good Time earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He has since appeared in high-profile films including Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza (2021), Kelly Fremon Craig’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023), and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023). On television, he co-created, co-wrote, and starred alongside Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone in the Showtime series The Curse (2023).

Signature style

The recognisable elements are visual style, rewatchability, originality. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same eye, re-tuned for different registers. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is staged.

Legacy

Safdie set terms other filmmakers now work against: the structures, the pacing and the refusal to explain. Awards bodies have often been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.

Best known for

Catalogue work still being written up by our editors.

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Complete credits

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Quick facts

Born
24 February 1986
Age
40
Active
2015 — 2025
Films directed
0
In the Nutevio catalogue
Known for
Question & Answer, Good Time, Uncut Gems
Directing score
6.7
Nutevio editorial metric
Collection appearances
0
Across the library
Films rated 8+
0

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