Joe Berlinger

JO BURLINGER

American director, screenwriter, producer, actor.

He was born on October 30, 1961 in Bridgeport (Connecticut, USA) in a Jewish family.

Graduated from Colgate University. After graduation, worked in an advertising agency in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Thanks to his connections in the world of cinema he got acquainted with the famous documentary filmmakers Albert and David Maysl, who became his mentors.

In 1992, together with Bruce Sinofsky, he made his first documentary, Brother's Keeper, about the trial of murderer Delbert Ward. The creative duo won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival for their work on the film.

In 1996, the first part of the acclaimed documentary series Paradise Lost was released, which won an Emmy Award.

The first feature film of the director's career was the horror film The Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows (2000).

He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for his work on the sequel Paradise Lost 3 (2011).

He is also known for directing a film about the legendary rock band Metallica (2004) and a documentary about one of the most violent criminals in the United States called Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Records (2019).

PRIZES AND AWARDS

Sundance Film Festival:

1992 - Audience Award - Documentary ("Brotherhood Guard")

Primetime Emmy Award:

1997 - Best Newscast ("Paradise Lost")

2006 - Best Documentary Series ("Ten Days That Suddenly Changed America")