Jake Mahaffy is a filmmaker and teacher who grew up in the US midwest, and studied visual art and film at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as attending the directing course at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow.
Jake’s self-produced, micro-budget shorts and features were made single-handed, featuring untrained actors in rural settings. WELLNESS, MIRACLE BOY, WAR and other films have screened in international festivals including Sundance, Venice, and SXSW (Grand Jury Prize).
At the Big Screen Symposium Jake talks about his latest film, FREE IN DEED, which premiered at the 72nd Venice Film Festival. It was awarded the Orizzonti Best Film prize by jury president Jonathan Demme, and it received exceptional reviews, described by Variety Magazine as a “jagged, productively provocative work” with “superb, skin-prickling performances.” Developed over 11 years, and workshopped through the Sundance Labs, the film is based on a true story set in the distinctive world of storefront churches and depicts a man who tries to perform a miracle.
Jake has been awarded fellowships from foundations and institutes including Guggenheim, Tribeca, Sundance, Creative Capital. In the US he founded filmmaking programmes at two universities as an Associate Professor before immigrating to New Zealand. Jake currently works as a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland.
Case Study: FREE IN DEED, Sun 11th October, 10.30am
