Jim Cummings (born October 31, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, and composer. He is known for writing, directing and starring in the 2016 short film Thunder Road, which he extended into a 2018 feature film of the same name. He also wrote, directed and starred in The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), and The Beta Test (2021). He also starred in The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023).
Early life and education Cummings is from New Orleans. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 2009. He relocated to Los Angeles following a divorce and worked as a producer for CollegeHumor.
Career For his work in Thunder Road (2018), Cummings won the South by Southwest Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature. He was also nominated for the 2018 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for his work in Thunder Road.
In March 2024, it was announced that Cummings, along with PJ McCabe and Thomas Cross, launched an independent production studio named Cool & Happy Limited.
Cool & Happy's first production, an independent TV show titled The Screener will premiere at the 2026 edition of the Sundance Film Festival.
Filmography Feature films Year Film Director Writer Producer Editor Notes 2010 No Floodwall Here Feature directorial debut 2014 Confusion Through Sand 2015 The Grief of Others 2015 Krisha 201513 Cameras 2018 Thunder Road Also composer 2020 Beast Beast The Wolf of Snow Hollow 2021 The Beta Test Co-written / directed with PJ McCabe 2023 The Last Stop in Yuma County
Short films As a director Brothers (2009) The Flamingo (2012) Us Funny (2016) Call Your Father (2016) Thunder Road (2016) The Mountains of Mourne (2017) Hydrangea (2017) The Robbery (2017) It's All Right, It's Ok (2017) Is Now A Good Time? (2024)
As a producer The Last Brunch (2024)
Acting roles Year Film Role Notes 2014 This is Jay Calvin Jay Calvin Short film 2015 13 Cameras Paul 2016 Thunder Road Jim Arnaud Short film 2017 The Mountains of Mourne Jim Short film 2017 The Show About the Show YouTube Commentator 2017Still LifeJimSeries 2018 Thunder Road Jim Arnaud 2019 Greener Grass Rob 2020 The Wolf of Snow Hollow John Marshall 2020 The Block Island Sound Dale 2021 The Beta Test Jordan Hines 2021 Halloween Kills Pete McCabe 2023 Barry Barry Berkman Episode: "wow" 2023 The Last Stop in Yuma County The Knife Salesman 2025 The Righteous Gemstones Captain Cane Episode: "Prelude" 2025 Redux Redux Jonathan2026The YetiBooker
Awards and nominations
Film festival awards Year Festival Film Award Result Refs. 2014 USA Film Festival Confusion Through Sand Animation Indianapolis International Film Festival American Spectrum Prize - Best Short 2016 Sundance Film FestivalThunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Short Film SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Narrative Short Special Jury Award for Acting Provincetown International Film Festival Jury Award - Best Narrative Short Philadelphia Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short Film Palm Springs International ShortFest Special Jury Award Los Angeles Film Festival Jury Prize - Outstanding Performance HollyShorts Film Festival Best Short Narrative ÉCU Film Festival Festival Award - Non-European Shorts Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award - Best Short Film Champs-Élysées Film Festival Best American Short Film Audience Award Atlanta Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short Film Anchorage International Film Festival Best Short Film ShortList Film Festival Creators League Prize 2017 Sundance Film Festival The Robbery Grand Jury Prize - Short Film SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award - Narrative Short Champs-Élysées Film Festival Best American Short Anchorage International Film Festival Best Super Short Film 2018 SXSW Film FestivalThunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Sidewalk Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Seattle International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New American Cinema Competition Golden Space Needle Award- Best Actor Deauville American Film Festival Grand Prix Nashville Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New Director Fayetteville Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Philadelphia Film Festival Archie Award- Best First Feature Munich Film Festival Best Film by an Emerging Director Buffalo International Film Festival Best Feature Narrative Athens Film Festival Best Picture Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize - Narrative Feature
Independent Spirit Awards Year Film Award Result Notes2019 Thunder Road John Cassavetes Award Shared with Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker and Benjamin Weissner
References
External links
Jim Cummings on Vimeo Jim Cummings on Letterboxd