The first Dark Matters juror in our spotlight is Jenny Jacobi, who is part of the acquisitions team at Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Though only five years old, Drafthouse Films has already proven to be a powerhouse in film curating and distribution. Drafthouse Films picks up stand out films of all types, but are particularly adept at identifying new, talented, and fantastically bizarre voices within the horror and sci-fi genres. Some of their notable films include The Keeping Room, The ABCs of Death, Cheap Thrills, and The Invitation. As part of the team, Jenny has proven to have a keen eye for up-and-coming films, and an eagerness and passion for finding new talented voices. We can’t think of a better addition for our Dark Matters jury. Learn more about Jenny below and check out all of our confirmed jurors here.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There’s no such thing as a typical day! If it’s festival season, I’m running around Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Telluride, or Toronto screening films, taking meetings, and/or coordinating talent. Outside of festival season, my day depends on the film we’re in the process of releasing: I’m often researching or sourcing all kinds of random things like Ukrainian Sign Language interpreters, the total number of life-threatening injuries sustained while a film was being made, or animal penises for a theater installation (seriously).
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is continuously getting to learn new things, always. Not much of anything falls beyond the realm of possibility in my work, and I love that.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
This is an impossible question to answer, so I’m not even going to try!
Who’s your favorite writer and why?
My favorite writer is Haruki Murakami. I love the worlds he creates, and the precise way he describes food, music, and alcohol. If I could live in a Murakami world, I wouldn’t hesitate.
What’s your favorite part about Austin Film Festival?
I love the panels that Austin Film Festival puts together, they’re absolutely incredible. You can see Jonathan Demme and Paul Thomas Anderson share their mutual love of each other’s work, but you can also interact directly with peers on a smaller, more intimate level.
What was your first job or worst job?
My first job was as a dishwasher in a small neighborhood cafe. I was 14!