Max Barbakow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Max Barbakow
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Director and Writer
Years active2020-Present
Notable workPalm Springs (2020)
Websitehttps://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] After the film's success at Sundance, Barbakow signed with Range Media Partners.[4] His upcoming projects include Brothers, starring Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin,[5] and an untitled body swap comedy featuring Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston.[6]

Education[edit]

Barbakow attended The Thacher School in Ojai, CA. He received his bachelor's degree from from Yale University [7] and graduated from the American Film Institute with an MFA in directing. [8]

Career[edit]

After making short films, sketches, and documentaries 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]

Personal life[edit]

Barbakow is married. He met his wife before production began on Palm Springs.[15]

Select filmography as director[edit]

  • Mommy, I'm a Bastard! (2013)
  • Merrimaker (2013; short film)
  • Destiny (2014; short film)
  • The Touch (2014; short film)
  • The Duke: Based on the Memoir 'I'm the Duke' by J.P. Duke (2016; short film)
  • Mi Dulcinea (2017; short film)
  • Palm Springs (2020)
  • Brothers (2024)

References[edit]

  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. ^ Kroll, Justin (2022-07-20). "'Palm Springs' Director Max Barbakow Signs With Range Media Partners". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  5. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (2021-06-03). "Glenn Close to Star in 'Brothers' With Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Pamuk, Zeynep (2009-02-24). "Students split on production company". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  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. ^ a b 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. ^ 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.


External links[edit]