Max Barbakow

Last updated
Max Barbakow
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Director and Writer
Years active2020-Present
Notable workPalm Springs (2020)
Website https://www.maxbarbakow.com/bio

Max Barbakow is an American filmmaker. [1] After directing several short films, he received widespread critical acclaim and recognition for his directorial debut feature film, Palm Springs. [2] [3] His upcoming projects include Brothers , starring Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin, [4] and an untitled body swap comedy featuring Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston. [5]

Contents

Education

Barbakow attended The Thacher School in Ojai, CA. He received his bachelor's degree from Yale University, [6] trained with Werner Herzog in Cuba, [7] and graduated from the AFI Conservatory with an MFA in directing in 2016. [8]

Career

After making short films and sketches for a number of years, Barbakow directed his first feature film, Mommy, I'm a Bastard!, in 2013. [9] His thesis at Yale, Mommy, I'm a Bastard! is a documentary about his open adoption and relationship with his birth mother. [9]

Barbakow found widespread critical and commercial success after the release of Palm Springs. After its premiere at Sundance, Neon and Hulu acquired the distribution rights to the film in a $17.5 million deal. [10] [11] The film won Best Comedy at the 26th Critics' Choice Awards, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie at the 2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards, [12] and Best Comedy or Musical from the Hollywood Critics Association. [13] Palm Springs also garnered two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture Comedy, and Barbakow was nominated for The Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay with Andy Siara.

In 2021, Barbakow participated in a commentary cut of Palm Springs, the first of its kind on a streaming platform. [14]

Brothers, starring Brolin, Dinklage, Glenn Close, and Brendan Fraser, is scheduled to be released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios in select theaters on October 11, 2024 before debuting on Amazon Prime Video on October 17, 2024. [15]

Personal life

Barbakow is married. He met his wife before production began on Palm Springs. [16]

Select filmography as director

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References

  1. ↑ Welk, Brian (August 17, 2022). "'Palm Springs' Director Max Barbakow Sets Next Film 'Disaster Wedding' From Producer Jon Watts at Warner Bros". TheWrap. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  2. ↑ Kroll, Justin (August 17, 2022). "'Palm Springs' Director Max Barbakow Boards Warner Bros. Comedy 'Disaster Wedding', Jon Watts Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  3. ↑ Luers, Erik (July 9, 2020). ""A Sequel to a Film That Doesn't Exist": Max Barbakow on Palm Springs". Filmmaker. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (2021-06-03). "Glenn Close to Star in 'Brothers' With Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  5. ↑ Jr, Mike Fleming (2023-01-29). "Amazon Wins Max Barbakow's Body Swap Comedy Pitch Vehicle For Julia Roberts & Jennifer Aniston; They'll Produce With LuckyChap". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ↑ Pamuk, Zeynep (2009-02-24). "Students split on production company". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  7. ↑ O'Falt, Chris (6 June 2017). "Werner Herzog's Film School Advice: 6 Crucial Lessons From a Master to His Pupils". Indiewire. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "PALM SPRINGS Director and Writer Talk Inspiration, Collaboration and Meeting at the AFI Conservatory". American Film Institute. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  9. 1 2 Kettmann, Matt (2013-01-28). "Mommy, I'm a Bastard". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  10. ↑ Jr, Mike Fleming (2020-01-27). "'Palm Springs' Near $15 Million Deal With Neon & Hulu – Sundance". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  11. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (2020-01-28). "'Palm Springs' Breaks Sundance Record for Biggest Sale Ever — by 69 Cents". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  12. ↑ Davis, Clayton (2021-02-08). "Critics Choice Awards: 'Mank' Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  13. ↑ Neglia, Matt (2021-02-01). "The 2020 Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  14. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (2021-01-25). "'Palm Springs' Gets Commentary Cut With Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Amazon MGM Studios Acquires Action Comedy 'Brothers' Starring Josh Brolin & Peter Dinklage". 22 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (2021-01-28). "Making of 'Palm Springs': How a 22-Day Film Shoot and a Tight Budget Produced a Record-Setting Sundance Hit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
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