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 | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | film director, screenwriter |
| Known for | There Are No Fakes, The Secret Disco Revolution, The Skyjacker's Tale |
Career
editJamie 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.[7] Kastner's wife Laura Baron Kastner is producer and business partner at Cave 7 Productions.[8] Kastner worked as an associate producer and researcher on several of John Kastner's films, including 1997's Hunting Bobby Oatway.[9]
Jamie Kastner's films explore such topics as pop culture,[10] political and social issues, crime and identity.[11] His first documentary was Free Trade Is Killing My Mother (2003), a black comedy about protest.[12] Films such as Djangomania! (2005),[13] Kike Like Me (2007)[14] and Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! (2011).[15] 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.[16] The film won the Audience Award at Munich Dokfest and was shortlisted for the Grierson Award in 2008.[17]
Kastner has also worked as a producer and writer on several television series,[18] as a newspaper reporter and features writer,[19][20] playwright,[21] critic and television host.[22]
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.[23]
Filmography
edit- 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)
- No One Wants to Talk about Jacob Appelbaum (2024)
Awards
edit| Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | May 20, 2021 | Direction in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | [24] |
| Writing in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | |||
| Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Home". cave7productions.com.
- ^ Taylor, Kate (23 April 2019). "Hot Docs 2019: Norval Morrisseau, the Barenaked Ladies and the fine art of forgery". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Knelman, Martin (9 September 2016). "Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama". The Toronto Star.
- ^ "Kastner's "Disco Revolution" heads to America".
- ^ "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2014.
- ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3238484/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 [user-generated source]
- ^ Knelman, Martin (9 September 2016). "Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama". The Toronto Star.
- ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Lee, Felicia R. (17 December 2007). "Vexing Questions of Jewish Identity". The New York Times.
- ^ Kastner, Jamie (November 2003). "Babe in TV land". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Django doc hits T.O."[usurped]. Toronto Sun, September 24, 2005.
- ^ "Vexing questions of Jewish identity". The New York Times, December 17, 2007.
- ^ "Hot Docs grows as filmmakers 'connect the dots'". CTV News, April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award". CBC News. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17.
- ^ "Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award". CBC News. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-kastner-b8254616/ [self-published source]
- ^ "Jamie Kastner". 30 July 2013.
- ^ "Just the two of us: Holidays for single parents". TheGuardian.com. 19 February 2011.
- ^ "Jamie Kastner". 30 July 2013.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-kastner-b8254616/details/experience/ [self-published source]
- ^ "Bell Media's Harold Greenberg Fund Announces Script Development Support for 33 Canadian Film Projects".
- ^ Furdyk, Brent (2021-03-30). "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, 'Schitt's Creek' Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-06.