Jim Becket, a renowned filmmaker, grew up in the picturesque town of Lakeville, Connecticut, nestled in the heart of New England. From a young age, he harbored two ambitious dreams: to become a member of the Olympic ski team and to pursue a career as a writer. While his parents, a country lawyer father and a piano teacher mother, did not have a background in the film industry, they instilled in him a strong foundation for his future endeavors. Becket's academic pursuits took him to Harvard Law School and Switzerland, where he earned a doctorate, all while honing his skiing skills.
Becket's journey in the film industry began with his involvement in the production of the movie "Que Hacer" in Chile during the election of Salvador Allende. His subsequent seven-year tenure with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees allowed him to travel the world, capturing refugee crises on film. This experience laid the groundwork for his eventual transition to Hollywood, where he would finally find his true calling as a writer and director.
Throughout his career, Becket has been driven by his passion for storytelling, which he believes is an art form that combines the best of all creative disciplines. He currently resides in Ojai, California, with his wife, Camilla, and their 15-year-old daughter, Lydia, who has been living with epilepsy since childhood. This personal experience has inspired Becket to create a number of films aimed at supporting parents who receive a diagnosis of their child's seizure disorder.
In recent years, Becket has shifted his focus to documentary filmmaking, primarily exploring environmental issues that are critical to the well-being of our planet.
