Frank Capra with student debt and a Zoloft prescription.
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.
  • Writer (5 Credits)
    Hopeless
    Student, Television Script
    It Would Have Been Enough
    Screenplay
    The Breakdown Parables2020
    Short
    We Can Do It2018
    Short, Student
    White People2016
    Short, Student
  • Director (4 Credits)
    Oyate2020
    Documentary
    The Breakdown Parables2020
    Short
    We Can Do It2018
    Short, Student
    White People2016
    Short, Student
  • Producer (3 Credits)
    Oyate2020
    Documentary
    We Can Do It2018
    Short, Student
    White People2016
    Short, Student
  • Acting (1 Credit)
    The Breakdown Parables2020
    Short
Faculty Honors
It Would Have Been Enough
Columbia University Film Festival 2020
New York, NY
2020
Official Selection
White People
Sunscreen Film Festival
St. Petersburg, Florida
2016
Special Mention
White People
One Reeler Short Film Competition
College
Boston University
BFA Theatre Arts
20082012
College
Columbia University
MFA Film Directing & Screenwriting
20152020
Birth Date
March 3, 1990
Nickname
Ben
Current City
New York, New York
Hometown
Cleveland, Ohio
Height
5'8"
Gender
Male
Eye Color
Brown
Zodiac Sign
Pisces
“I don't believe in total freedom for the artist. Left on his own, free to do anything he likes, the artist ends up doing nothing at all. If there's one thing that's dangerous for an artist, it's precisely this question of total freedom, waiting for inspiration and all the rest of it.” -Federico Fellini
Frank Capra with student debt and a Zoloft prescription.
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