Person

Karyn Kusama

Directing · Born 1968-03-21 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Biography

Karyn Kiyoko Kusama (born March 21, 1968) is an American filmmaker. She made her directorial and writing feature film debut with the sports drama Girlfight (2000) for which she received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Kusama went on to direct the science fiction action film Æon Flux (2005), based on Peter Chung's animated series of the same name and the cult horror comedy film Jennifer's Body (2009). After working extensively as a television director, Kusama directed the horror film The Invitation (2015), a segment in the all-female horror anthology film XX (2017), and the Nicole Kidman-starring crime thriller film Destroyer (2018). Among her accolades, Kusama has received awards from the Cannes Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.

Known for

Filmography

2026The Terror: Devil in SilverDirector
2025Chain ReactionsSelf
2025Boorman and the DevilSelf
2023Lynch/OzHost (Chapter 4: 'Multitudes') (voice)
2023Dead RingersDirector
2023Sex on ScreenSelf
2023The ConsultantDirector
2022Body PartsSelf
2021YellowjacketsExecutive Producer
2020The OutsiderDirector
2019Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The ExorcistExecutive Producer
2018DestroyerDirector
2018Half the PictureSelf
201778/52Self
2017XXWriter
2016The InvitationDirector
2016BillionsDirector
2015SpeechlessDirector
2015CasualDirector
2015The Man in the High CastleDirector
2014Halt and Catch FireDirector
2013Masters of SexDirector
2012Chicago FireDirector
2009Jennifer's BodyDirector
2008In TreatmentDirector
2005Æon FluxDirector
2004The L WordDirector
2000GirlfightDirector
—BreedDirector
—Bad BehaviorDirector
—StanDirector
—Sleeping BeautiesDirector
—Jennifer's Body 2Director
—Life Is StrangeDirector

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