Born in 1943 in Chicago, Jost's life was marked by a nomadic upbringing due to his family's military background, with stops in Georgia, Kansas, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Virginia. His college tenure was cut short in 1963 when he was expelled, but this setback didn't deter him from pursuing his passion for filmmaking. Despite being self-taught, Jost has gone on to create an impressive body of work, comprising over 20 shorts and 16 feature films, all of which he has conceptualized, written, photographed, directed, and edited.
Jost's life took a dramatic turn in 1965 when he was imprisoned for two years and three months by US Federal authorities for his refusal to cooperate with the Selective Service System. Upon his release, he became deeply involved in political activism, playing a key role in the establishment of the Chicago branch of NEWSREEL, a New Left film production and distribution group, as well as working for the draft and the Chicago Mobilization.
In 1974, Jost made his debut feature-length film, and since then, he has dedicated himself to creating a diverse range of films, primarily focused on American topics, experimenting with various forms, including essays, essay-fictions, avant-garde, and new narrative styles. His work has been widely exhibited in museums, film archives, and festivals since 1975.
In 1991, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York presented a comprehensive retrospective of Jost's work, featuring 11 feature films and five programs of shorts.
