Jamie Kastner
{{Short description|Canadian screenwriter and film director}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jamie Kastner
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Canadian
| other_names =
| occupation = film director, screenwriter
| known_for = There 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.cave7productions.com/ |title=Home |website=cave7productions.com}} Kastner is best known for his feature documentaries, including There Are No Fakes, which premiered at Hot Docs in 2019,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-hot-docs-2019-norval-morrisseau-the-barenaked-ladies-and-the-fine/|title = Hot Docs 2019: Norval Morrisseau, the Barenaked Ladies and the fine art of forgery|newspaper = The Globe and Mail|date = 23 April 2019|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Kate}} The Skyjacker's Tale (2016) {{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/tiff/2016/09/09/jamie-kastner-to-use-skyjacking-doc-as-springboard-to-movie-drama.html|title = Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama|newspaper = The Toronto Star|date = 9 September 2016|last1 = Knelman|first1 = Martin}} and The Secret Disco Revolution, both of which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://realscreen.com/2012/11/20/kastners-disco-revolution-heads-to-america/|title = Kastner's "Disco Revolution" heads to America}}
Career
Jamie Kastner is a member of a family of filmmakers. He is the nephew of actor Peter Kastner and filmmaker John Kastner.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/carrying-on-the-kastner-family-business/article18374304/ "Carrying on the Kastner family business"]. The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2014. Kastner's grandmother, Rose, served as an associate producer on several of John Kastner's films,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/carrying-on-the-kastner-family-business/article18374304/|title = Carrying on the Kastner family business|newspaper = The Globe and Mail|date = 2 May 2014|last1 = Benzine|first1 = Adam}} while his mother, Susan Kastner, was involved in the production of several of Jamie Kastner's films as a researcher.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3238484/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} Kastner's wife Laura Baron Kastner is producer and business partner at Cave 7 Productions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/tiff/2016/09/09/jamie-kastner-to-use-skyjacking-doc-as-springboard-to-movie-drama.html|title = Jamie Kastner to use skyjacking doc as springboard to movie drama|newspaper = The Toronto Star|date = 9 September 2016|last1 = Knelman|first1 = Martin}} Kastner worked as an associate producer and researcher on several of John Kastner's films, including 1997's Hunting Bobby Oatway.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/carrying-on-the-kastner-family-business/article18374304/|title = Carrying on the Kastner family business|newspaper = The Globe and Mail|date = 2 May 2014|last1 = Benzine|first1 = Adam}}
Jamie Kastner's films explore such topics as pop culture,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/carrying-on-the-kastner-family-business/article18374304/|title = Carrying on the Kastner family business|newspaper = The Globe and Mail|date = 2 May 2014|last1 = Benzine|first1 = Adam}} political and social issues, crime and identity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/movies/17docu.html?_r=0|title = Vexing Questions of Jewish Identity|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 17 December 2007|last1 = Lee|first1 = Felicia R.}} His first documentary was Free Trade Is Killing My Mother (2003), a black comedy about protest.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/babe-in-tv-land/article18434503/|title=Babe in TV land|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=November 2003|last1=Kastner|first1=Jamie}} Films such as Djangomania! (2005),{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20140727033007/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2005/09/24/1233966-sun.html "Django doc hits T.O."]}}. Toronto Sun, September 24, 2005. Kike Like Me (2007)[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/movies/17docu.html?_r=0 "Vexing questions of Jewish identity"]. The New York Times, December 17, 2007. and Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! (2011)[http://www.ctvnews.ca/hot-docs-grows-as-filmmakers-connect-the-dots-1.636522 "Hot Docs grows as filmmakers 'connect the dots'"]. CTV News, April 28, 2011. 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.{{cite web |title=Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award |date=2008-08-07 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317175636/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/kastner-doc-shortlisted-for-grierson-award-1.706927 |archive-date=2022-03-17 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/kastner-doc-shortlisted-for-grierson-award-1.706927}} The film won the Audience Award at Munich Dokfest and was shortlisted for the Grierson Award in 2008.{{cite web |title=Kastner doc shortlisted for Grierson award |date=2008-08-07 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317175636/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/kastner-doc-shortlisted-for-grierson-award-1.706927 |archive-date=2022-03-17 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/kastner-doc-shortlisted-for-grierson-award-1.706927}}
Kastner has also worked as a producer and writer on several television series,https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-kastner-b8254616/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}} as a newspaper reporter and features writer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernstars.ca/kastner_jamie/|title = Jamie Kastner|date = 30 July 2013 | last1=Lucas | first1=Ralph }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/feb/19/single-parent-holiday-jamaica|title = Just the two of us: Holidays for single parents|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 19 February 2011}} playwright,{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernstars.ca/kastner_jamie/|title = Jamie Kastner|date = 30 July 2013 | last1=Lucas | first1=Ralph }} critic and television host.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-kastner-b8254616/details/experience/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/bell-medias-harold-greenberg-fund-announces-script-development-support-for-39-canadian-film-projects/|title=Bell Media's Harold Greenberg Fund Announces Script Development Support for 33 Canadian Film Projects|work=Bell Media }}
Filmography
- 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
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Award !Date of Ceremony !Category !Result !Reference |
| rowspan="3" |Canadian Screen Awards
| rowspan="3" |May 20, 2021 |Direction in a Documentary Program or Series |Nominated |
| Writing in a Documentary Program or Series
|Nominated |
| Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series
|Nominated |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2040170|Jamie Kastner}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kastner, Jamie}}
Category:Canadian documentary film directors
Category:Canadian male screenwriters
Category:Screenwriters from Toronto
Category:Film directors from Toronto
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Jewish Canadian screenwriters