Jamie Kastner
Canadian screenwriter and film director
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Jamie Kastner is a Canadian writer, director and documentary filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. His company, Cave 7 Productions, produces both theatrical and television productions.[1] Kastner is best known for his feature documentaries, including There Are No Fakes, which premiered at Hot Docs in 2019,[2] The Skyjacker's Tale (2016) [3] and The Secret Disco Revolution, both of which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4]
Jamie Kastner | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter |
| Known for | There Are No Fakes, The Secret Disco Revolution, The Skyjacker's Tale |
Career
Jamie Kastner is a member of a family of filmmakers. He is the nephew of actor Peter Kastner and filmmaker John Kastner.[5] Kastner's grandmother, Rose, served as an associate producer on several of John Kastner's films,[6] while his mother, Susan Kastner, was involved in the production of several of Jamie Kastner's films as a researcher. Kastner's wife Laura Baron Kastner is producer and business partner at Cave 7 Productions.[7] Kastner worked as an associate producer and researcher on several of John Kastner's films, including 1997's Hunting Bobby Oatway.[8]
Jamie Kastner's films explore such topics as pop culture,[9] political and social issues, crime and identity.[10] His first documentary was Free Trade Is Killing My Mother (2003), a black comedy about protest.[11] Films such as Djangomania! (2005),[12] Kike Like Me (2007)[13] and Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! (2011)[14] employ both comedy and a first-person, road movie format. Kike Like Me, which follows Kastner as he travels to several countries exploring the notion of modern Jewish identity, premiered at HotDocs in 2007.[15] The film won the Audience Award at Munich Dokfest and was shortlisted for the Grierson Award in 2008.[16]
Kastner has also worked as a producer and writer on several television series, as a newspaper reporter and features writer,[17][18] playwright,[19] critic and television host.
In 2017, The Harold Greenberg Fund supported the adaptation of The Skyjacker's Tale into a dramatic feature film, titled, The Skyjacker's Son, with Kastner as screenwriter.[20]
Filmography
- Free Trade Is Killing My Mother (2003)
- Djangomania! (2005)
- Kike Like Me (2007)
- Ancestors in the Attic (2010, TV series; episode "Slavery Roots")
- Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! (2011)
- The Secret Disco Revolution (2012)
- The Skyjacker's Tale (2016)
- D-Day in 14 Stories (2019)
- There Are No Fakes (2019)
- Nobody Wants to Talk About Jacob Appelbaum (2024)
- The Spoils (2024)
Awards
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | May 20, 2021 | Direction in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | [21] |
| Writing in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | |||
| Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series | Nominated |