Joshua Henry Safdie (born April 3, 1984) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for writing and directing the crime thriller films Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019) with his younger brother Benny Safdie as the Safdie brothers.
Josh Safdie | |
|---|---|
 Josh being interviewed at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival | |
| Born | Joshua Henry Safdie April 3, 1984 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | Sara Rossein |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Website | elara |
In 2024, it was reported that he and his brother would no longer be directing together and would pursue solo careers. His first film since the split, Marty Supreme, was released on December 25, 2025, and earned him four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It is his first solo directorial effort since 2008's The Pleasure of Being Robbed.
Early life and education
Joshua Henry Safdie was born April 3, 1984 in New York City to Amy and Alberto Safdie. Safdie is Jewish. His father was born in Italy, raised in France, and is of Syrian-Jewish descent. His mother is of Russian-Jewish descent. His great uncle is architect Moshe Safdie. His cousin once removed is playwright Oren Safdie. He and brother Benny Safdie divided their childhood living between their father in Queens and their mother and stepfather in Manhattan after their parents' divorce.
He attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and graduated from the Boston University College of Communication in 2007.
Career
Filmmaker
The Safdies' first feature was the 2009 film Daddy Longlegs, which they also wrote the screenplay for and edited together. The film was showcased in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. In 2013, they debuted the documentary film Lenny Cooke at the Tribeca Film Festival, a documentary they became attached to after Cooke approached them to review the footage. In 2014, the pair premiered their next film Heaven Knows What at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. In February 2016, the brothers began filming their crime thriller film Good Time. It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or.
Uncut Gems, Josh and Benny's next film, starred Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield and Julia Fox and was executive produced by Martin Scorsese. The brothers won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, and Benny shared the Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing with Ronald Bronstein, with whom he co-edited all the Safdie brother films.
Solo career
In early 2024, it was reported that Josh and Benny would no longer be directing films together and would pursue solo careers. Benny described the split as amicable, calling it a "natural progression of what we each want to explore."
Josh's first feature as a solo director is Marty Supreme, loosely based on Marty Reisman, a hustler-turned-champion table tennis player. It stars Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, and was released by A24 on December 25, 2025. His frequent collaborator Ronald Bronstein both co-wrote and edited the film, while Darius Khondji was the cinematographer and Jack Fisk was the production designer. The film's $70 million budget makes it A24's most expensive film.
Personal life
Safdie is married to producer Sara Rossein. They have two children.
Filmography
Film
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Editor | Collaboration with Benny | Collaboration with Bronstein | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Pleasure of Being Robbed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Also actor, producer |
| 2009 | Daddy Longlegs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | Lenny Cooke | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Heaven Knows What | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Good Time | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2019 | Uncut Gems | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2022 | Funny Pages | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Also producer |
| 2025 | If I Had Legs I'd Kick You | No | No | No | No | Yes | Also producer |
| Marty Supreme | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Also producer; contributed to snakebites, forces of nature, locomotion to the soundtrack of the film | |
| 2026 | The History of Concrete | No | No | No | No | Yes | Executive Producer |
| TBA | Deep Cuts | No | No | No | No | Yes | Also producer |
| The Land of Nod | No | No | No | No | Yes | Also producer |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Curse | No | No | Executive | Miniseries |
| Telemarketers | No | No | Executive | TV series | |
| Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God | No | No | Executive | Documentary mini-series | |
| 2024 | Ren Faire | No | No | Executive | Documentary mini-series |
| Adam Sandler: Love You | Yes | No | Yes | Netflix comedy special | |
| 2025 | Pee-wee as Himself | No | No | Executive | Documentary mini-series |
| Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh | No | No | Executive | HBO comedy special | |
| 2026 | Neighbors | No | No | Executive | Documentary series |
| TBA | Superfakes | No | No | Executive | Crime-drama series |
As actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | We're Going to the Zoo | The Hitchhiker | Short film |
| The Ralph Handel Story | The Director (voice) | Short film | |
| 2007 | The Back of Her Head | Him | Short film |
| 2008 | The Pleasure of Being Robbed | Josh | |
| Yeast | Riverguy 1 | ||
| 2009 | Taking Woodstock | Documentary Cameraman | Uncredited |
| Daddy Longlegs | Chris | ||
| La corsa | Alessandro | Short film | |
| 2013 | Lydia Hoffman Lydia Hoffman | Bruce | Short film |
| Hellaware | Gallery Patron | ||
| Stand Clear of the Closing Doors | Fighter | ||
| 2015 | This Summer Feeling | Thomas | |
| 2016 | Togetherness | Craddock Brother #1 | Episode: "Advanced Pretend" |
| My Art | Tom | ||
| 2017 | Ezer Kenegdo | Levi |