Joshua 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.
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 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
Year Title Director WriterProducer Editor Collaboration with Benny Collaboration with BronsteinNotes 2008The Pleasure of Being Robbed 2009Daddy Longlegs 2013Lenny Cooke 2014Heaven Knows What 2017Good Time 2019Uncut Gems 2022Funny Pages 2025 If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie Special thanks Marty Supreme Also contributed to the soundtrack 2026 The History of Concrete TBA Deep Cuts The Land of Nod
Television Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes2023 The Curse Miniseries Telemarketers TV series Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God Documentary mini-series2024 Ren Faire Adam Sandler: Love You Netflix comedy special2025 Pee-wee as Himself Documentary mini-series Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh HBO comedy special2026 Neighbors Documentary series Monsters of God Documentary mini-series TBA Superfakes Crime-drama series
Advertisements Year Title DirectorBrandRef 2026Nike ‘Knicks Championship' spot Nike
As actor Year Title Role Notes 2006 We're Going to the Zoo The Hitchhiker Short film The Ralph Handel Story The DirectorVoice; short film 2007 The Back of Her Head HimShort 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 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
Awards and nominations
References
External links