Jamie Kastner

Jamie Kastner
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Known forThere Are No Fakes, The Secret Disco Revolution, The Skyjacker's Tale

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]

Career

Jamie 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. Kastner's wife Laura Baron Kastner is producer and business partner at Cave 7 Productions.[7] Kastner worked as an associate producer and researcher on several of John Kastner's films, including 1997's Hunting Bobby Oatway.[8]

Jamie Kastner's films explore such topics as pop culture,[9] political and social issues, crime and identity.[10] His first documentary was Free Trade Is Killing My Mother (2003), a black comedy about protest.[11] Films such as Djangomania! (2005),[12] Kike Like Me (2007)[13] and Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! (2011)[14] 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.[15] The film won the Audience Award at Munich Dokfest and was shortlisted for the Grierson Award in 2008.[16]

Kastner has also worked as a producer and writer on several television series, as a newspaper reporter and features writer,[17][18] playwright,[19] critic and television host.

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.[20]

Filmography

Awards

Award Date of Ceremony Category Result Reference
Canadian Screen Awards May 20, 2021 Direction in a Documentary Program or Series Nominated [21]
Writing in a Documentary Program or Series Nominated
Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Home". cave7productions.com.
  2. ^ Taylor, Kate (23 April 2019). "Hot Docs 2019: Norval Morrisseau, the Barenaked Ladies and the fine art of forgery". The Globe and Mail.
  3. ^ Knelman, Martin (9 September 2016). "Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama". The Toronto Star.
  4. ^ "Kastner's "Disco Revolution" heads to America".
  5. ^ "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
  7. ^ Knelman, Martin (9 September 2016). "Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama". The Toronto Star.
  8. ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
  9. ^ Benzine, Adam (2 May 2014). "Carrying on the Kastner family business". The Globe and Mail.
  10. ^ Lee, Felicia R. (17 December 2007). "Vexing Questions of Jewish Identity". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Kastner, Jamie (November 2003). "Babe in TV land". The Globe and Mail.
  12. ^ "Django doc hits T.O.". Toronto Sun, September 24, 2005.
  13. ^ "Vexing questions of Jewish identity". The New York Times, December 17, 2007.
  14. ^ "Hot Docs grows as filmmakers 'connect the dots'". CTV News, April 28, 2011.
  15. ^ "Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award". CBC News. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17.
  16. ^ "Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award". CBC News. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17.
  17. ^ Lucas, Ralph (30 July 2013). "Jamie Kastner".
  18. ^ "Just the two of us: Holidays for single parents". TheGuardian.com. 19 February 2011.
  19. ^ Lucas, Ralph (30 July 2013). "Jamie Kastner".
  20. ^ "Bell Media's Harold Greenberg Fund Announces Script Development Support for 33 Canadian Film Projects". Bell Media.
  21. ^ 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.