Jeff Lipsky, a renowned expert in independent film marketing, acquisition, and distribution, celebrates his 50th year in the industry in 2024. As a co-founder of three successful film distribution companies, October Films, Lot 47 Films, and Adopt Films, Lipsky has played a significant role in shaping the independent film landscape.
Lipsky's career began in 1974, working alongside his mentor and friend, actor/writer/director John Cassavetes. He distributed Cassavetes' iconic film A Woman Under the Influence, starring Gena Rowlands, which grossed $89 million in North America, adjusting for inflation. This experience laid the foundation for Lipsky's future success in the distribution industry.
As a filmmaker, Lipsky's debut feature, Childhood's End, premiered at the San Sebastian and Montreal World Film Festivals in 1997. He went on to direct Flannel Pajamas, selected for Dramatic Competition at Sundance in 2006, and Once More With Feeling, also selected by Sundance in 2009. His subsequent films, including Twelve Thirty, Molly's Theory of Relativity, Mad Women, and The Last, showcased his versatility as a director.
Lipsky's distribution career has been marked by numerous notable releases, including Wayne Wang's Chan Is Missing, Louis Malle's My Dinner with Andre, R.W. Fassbinder's The Marriage of Maria Braun, and Jean-Luc Godard's Every Man for Himself. He also distributed Jim Jarmusch's Stranger Than Paradise, which won Best Picture in 1984 from the National Society of Film Critics.
As President of the Motion Pictures Division of Skouras Pictures, Lipsky distributed Apartment Zero, My Life as a Dog, and High Hopes, which introduced him to Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike Leigh. This mentorship led to a lasting relationship between Lipsky and Leigh, with Lipsky co-founding October Films, which released Leigh's Life Is Sweet, Gregg Araki's The Living End, and Alain Corneau's Tous les matins du monde.
Lipsky co-founded Lot 47 Films in 1999, releasing films such as Tim Roth's The War Zone, Audrey Tautou's Venus Beauty Institute, and Im Kwon-Taek's Chunhyang. In 2006, he launched his own distribution company, releasing films like Assisted Living, The War Tapes, and Sweet Land.
In 2011, Lipsky co-founded Adopt Films, which released Hany Abu-Assad's Oscar-nominated film Omar, as well as award-winning films like Christian Petzold's Barbara and Ursula Meier's Sister. Adopt Films also released the Palme d'Or winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep and the Berlin award-winner Sebastian Schipper's Victoria.
In 2018, Lipsky launched Glass Half Full Media, releasing films like Measure of a Man, A Happening of Monumental Proportions, and Aardvark. In 2021, the company released Shepherd, The Story of a Jewish Dog, and Emma Dante's The Macaluso Sisters, both of which received critical acclaim.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jeff Lipsky has been recognized for his expertise in independent film marketing, acquisition, and distribution, and has been prominently featured in books written about Oscar-winning filmmakers Mike Leigh and Spike Lee. His dedication to the independent film industry has earned him a reputation as a respected and accomplished figure in the world of independent cinema.
