James Schamus

James Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain), and former CEO of Focus Features (Lost in Translation, Milk, The Pianist). His feature directorial debut, an adaptation of Philip Roth's Indignation, premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival, and was released by Roadside Attractions. Schamus’ production company, Symbolic Exchange, has produced, among others, Kitty Green’s acclaimed feature documentary Casting JonBenet, and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s A Prayer Before Dawn. Schamus is also Professor of Professional Practice in Columbia University’s School of the Arts, where he teaches film history and theory.