Safdie Brothers

Brothers Joshua Safdie and Ben Safdie are independent filmmakers based in New York City, who frequently collaborate.

Biography

Raised in both Queens and Manhattan, Josh and Ben Safdie began making movies at a young age, inspired by their film-enthusiast father. They attended Boston University, where they co-founded with Alex Kalman, the creative collective Red Bucket Films. The turmoil of their youth, as children of divorced parents, became an inspiration for later work. They're distantly related to famed architect Moshe Safdie.

Red Bucket Films

The Safdies are members of Red Bucket Films a creative collective formed by several friends and schoolmates, including fellow filmmakers Alex Kalman, Brett Jutkiewicz, and Sam Lisenco. They collaborate closely with each other on many projects. They often work with nonprofessional actors.

Career

The Pleasure of Being Robbed

In 2007, Partners & Spade co-founder Andy Spade commissioned Josh Safdie to create a short film to promote Kate Spade Handbags. Together, Josh and Benny and their cohort submitted instead a feature-length script, which they began shooting with Spade's support. Co-writer Eleonore Hendricks stars as a lonely kleptomaniac whose childlike charms and curiosity nevertheless leave her estranged from her fellow city dwellers. From purses to bags of grapes to a little girl's "surprise" litter of kittens, Eleonore explores the life of a free spirited thief in the city of New York.