EMIL BENJAMIN is a writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor based out of New York City. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he received his BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University and MFA in Film Directing & Screenwriting from Columbia University, where he also taught undergraduate screenwriting as part of a highly selective fellowship. Much of his work is rooted in social satire, but in recent years, he’s infused his personal experiences to create deep, tender dramedies that explore complicated family dynamics and cycles of abuse. Whatever the genre, his scripts have gained recognition for their vibrant worlds and idiosyncratic characters.
Emil's forthcoming feature documentary, OYATE, was featured in DOC NYC's "Only In New York" program as a work in progress and features prominent Indigenous activists and politicians, including Secretary Deb Haaland. His short films WHITE PEOPLE, WE CAN DO IT, and THE BREAKDOWN PARABLES have screened and earned prizes at over a dozen festivals domestically and internationally. Emil recently attended the Cine Qua Non Revision Lab with his feature, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH, which was also a finalist for the Annual Black List Feature Lab. He won the Austin Film Festival Pitch Competition and was shortlisted for Shore Scripts and Flickers RIIFF with his pilot, HOPELESS.
Emil is the founder of Irrelevant Media, an international production company and artistic collective that has screened films and won prizes at Venice, Cannes, TIFF, SXSW, and more. Members represent Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Lebanon, Pakistan, Germany, and the United States.