Ben Bowman

Ben Bowman is an American film director and screenwriter.[1] He made his feature debut with the drama Knucklehead.[2] The film premiered as the opening night film at the 2015 BAMcinématek New Voices in Black Cinema Festival. It went on to win awards at film festivals across the U.S.[3][4][5][6] and earned positive reviews.[2][7] A North American release was scheduled for October 2016.[8]

Ben Bowman
Ben Bowman accepting the Audience Award at the 2015 American Black Film Festival
Alma materNew York University
Occupationfilm director, screenwriter
Years active2001–

Career

Bowman began his career in Minneapolis, where he grew up, editing music video footage for Prince. He later studied directing under Spike Lee at NYU.[2][9]

Novelist Jonathan Lethem's "The Mad Brooklynite" was adapted for the stage by Bowman, who also directed the original production at The 45th Street Theater in New York City.[10][11]

Bowman’s debut as a feature writer and director was the Brooklyn set independent drama Knucklehead. Together with Bryan Abrams, he wrote the screenplay, which went on to draw the attention of Emmy winning and Oscar nominated actor Alfre Woodard. She had received the script from her co-star Gbenga Akinnagbe, who was also a producer on the film.[12] Woodard said that after reading the script, she signed on immediately to work with Bowman, “a young filmmaker with a great idea."[2]

Filmography
YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2001 New Detroit[13] Yes Yes Yes co-written with Tom Seltz
2009 High Maintenance (2009)[14] Yes
2010 Godfrey: Black by Accident[15] Yes Yes
2016 Knucklehead Yes Yes Yes feature debut
co-written with Bryan Abrams

References
  1. Webster, Andy (March 21, 2015). "A Mother's Clutch Makes Its Mark". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. Covert, Colin (May 3, 2015). "This 'Knucklehead' Will Make You Laugh, and Cry". Newsweek.
  3. Hod, Itay (June 7, 2015). "Clay Riley Hassler's 'Homeless' Wins Top Prize at Dances With Films Festival". TheWrap.
  4. "2015 Winners". American Black Film Festival.
  5. "MSPIFF ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF JURIED COMPETITION AND AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS". MSP Film Society. Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.
  6. "Baltimore International Black Film Festival". Facebook.
  7. DeFore, John (March 27, 2015). "'Knucklehead': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. "Knucklehead (2015) - Release Info". IMDb.
  9. "RLJ Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Urbanworld Film Festival Titles 'Like Cotton Twines' & 'Knucklehead'". Shadow and Act. October 4, 2016.
  10. "Under The Influence: Two Plays - The Mad Brooklynite And Sunlight In A Cafeteria". Theater Online.
  11. Williams-Rude, Beatrice. ""Under the Influence": Two one-act plays". Broadway After Dark. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  12. Mays, Raqiyah (April 2, 2015). "Alfre Woodard Goes Indie in 'Knucklehead'". Ebony.
  13. New Detroit (2001) at IMDb
  14. High Maintenance (2009) at IMDb
  15. Godfrey: Black by Accident at IMDb
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