Jeff Lipsky is a highly acclaimed filmmaker and 30‐year veteran in the
independent film world, internationally known for his expertise in independent
film marketing, acquisition, and distribution.
In 1996 Lipsky wrote and directed his first feature film Childhood’s End which
a New York Times film reviewer called, ‘The Graduate without guilt. A refreshing
change from the dumb brat‐pack stereotypes mewling through a typical Hollywood
coming‐of‐age fantasy. Savvy dialogue.’ It received an Official Invitation to
compete in the San Sebastian Film Festival, and screened at the Stockholm,
Montreal, Hamburg, and Seattle International Film Festivals. Released in 1997,
Childhood’s End enjoyed its national television premiere on the Independent Film
Channel in 1998.
Lipsky’s second film, Flannel Pajamas, co‐starring Justin Kirk (Weeds, Angels in
America), Julianne Nicholson (Tully, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), and
Rebecca Schull (NBC’s Wings) World Premiered as a Dramatic Competition
selection at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. About the film Roger Ebert said, “I
have seen one of the wisest films I can remember about love and human intimacy. It
is a film of integrity and truth, acted fearlessly, written and directed with quiet,
implacable skill. I will not forget it.”
Co‐founder of two successful film distribution companies, October Films and Lot
47 Films, Lipsky is a household name in the independent film community as
evident in the 2003 New York Times Bestseller Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax,
Sundance, and The Rise of Independent Film. Lipsky is also prominently featured in
books written about Oscar‐nominated writer/director Mike Leigh and filmmaker
Spike Lee.
Among the more well‐known of the 265 films Jeff Lipsky has shepherded into the
marketplace are My Life as a Dog, which earned Lasse Hallstrom his first two
Academy Award nominations, Jim Jarmusch’s first feature film Stranger Than
Paradise, and the film that introduced actor Gary Oldman to the world, Sid &
Nancy.
Lipsky’s distribution career began at the age of 21 with the literal start of the
independent distribution business. Along with his mentor, actor/writer/director
John Cassavetes, Jeff distributed A Woman Under the Influence, which, in 1974,
became the very first specialized film ever to be distributed nationally, bypassing
the archaic and obsolete sub‐distribution network.
In 1979 Lipsky became General Sales Manager of New Yorker Films where he
distributed Wayne Wang’s first film Chan Is Missing, Louis Malle’s My Dinner
with Andre, R.W. Fassbinder’s The Marriage of Maria Braun, and Jean‐Luc
Godard’s Every Man for Himself. In 1983 Lipsky became Vice President of
Distribution for Samuel Goldwyn Films where he distributed Dance with a
Stranger, 3 Men and a Cradle, Gregory’s Girl, The Care Bears Movie and
Stranger Than Paradise.
Tom Skouras hired Lipsky as President of the Motion Pictures Division of Skouras
Pictures in 1987 where he distributed screenwriter David Koepp’s first film
Mission: Impossible as well as Apartment Zero, My Life as a Dog and the
movie that introduced Mike Leigh to the U.S, High Hopes, which forged a lasting
mentor relationship for Lipsky, this time with Leigh’s long‐time producer Simon
Channing‐Williamns.
In 1990 Lipsky co‐founded October Films which immediately became one of the
most highly regarded independents, releasing films such as Leigh’s Life Is Sweet,
Gregg Araki’s The Living End, Alain Corneau’s Tous les matins du monde, and
John Dahl’s The Last Seduction.
After a two year return stint at Goldwyn, where he released Adrian Lyne’s
controversial Lolita, Lipsky co‐founded Lot 47 Films in 1999. Some of Lot 47’s
releases include Tim Roth directorial debut The War Zone, and Audrey Tautou’s
debut film, Venus Beauty Institute, the French multiple Academy Award
winning comedy‐drama. Other releases include Im Kwon‐Taek’s Cannes
competition entry Chunhyang, Michael Cuesta’s L.I.E., and the best reviewed film
of 2002, Zacharias Kunuk’s The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat). |
