Jonathan David Stack (born June 2, 1957) is an American

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

maker. He is also a co-founder of World Vasectomy Day.

Biography

Born in New York City to a teacher and worker, Jonathan spent much of his childhood exploring. He took an early interest to film. His family traveled with him, which inspired him to learn about other cultures and teach himself several foreign languages. Through a chance encounter with a

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...

film crew, Stack decided to pursue what has been a lifelong interest in film, specializing in documentaries.

Career

During his career, Stack has written, produced and directed over 25 films and 50 television programs. Among the best-known are '' The Farm: Angola, USA'' (1998), exploring Louisiana State Prison (LSP) through the lives of six inmates, which he co-directed and co-produced with Elizabeth Garbus.
, Louisiana Department of Corrections They also collaborated with

Wilbert Rideau Wilbert Rideau (born February 13, 1942) is an American convicted killer and former death row inmate from Lake Charles, Louisiana, who became an author and award-winning journalist while held for 44 years at Angola Prison. Rideau was convicted in ...

, a life prisoner who was editor of '' The Angolite'', a prisoner-run magazine, and whose book ''Life Sentences'' (1992) recounted the stories of several inmates. This film was honored with the

Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival has acted ...

Grand Jury Prize A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually annually and in a single city or region. Some film festivals show films outdoors or online. Films may be of recent date and depe ...

and an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He had earlier worked with Garbus as director and producer of '' Final Judgment: The Execution of Antonio James''(1996), also filmed at LSP. Moved by the life of Vincent Simmons, Stack returned to film '' Shadows of Doubt: Vincent Simmons'' (2009) about his case. Simmons struggled for years to gain the evidence file in his case, which he finally could read in 1993. He continues to say that he is innocent and was poorly represented; he notes many inconsistencies in evidence, much of which the prosecution suppressed. Stack filmed interviews with family and other residents of Avoyelles Parish, and a meeting of Simmons with the twins who had accused him of rape. Stack also returned to LSP to film '' The Farm: 10 Down'' (2009), a follow-up 10 years later with the survivors (including Simmons) among the six men featured in the 1998 ''The Farm''. He continues to be deeply interested in issues associated with incarceration and the criminal justice system in the United States, and has made several films related to this. While working as an independent filmmaker, Stack has earned a reputation for his ability to gain access into forbidden and even dangerous worlds. His exclusives include President Charles Taylor's farewell speech to the nation of

Liberia Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast–Lib ...

('' Liberia: An Uncivil War'' co-directed by James Martin Brabazon), and a rare interview with

David Miscavige David Miscavige (; born April 30, 1960) is an American Scientologist who is serving as the second and current leader of the Church of Scientology. His official title within the organization is Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology ...

, head of the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religiou ...

(''Inside the Church of Scientology''). In 2008, Stack was the executive producer of ''Iron Ladies of Liberia'', directed by Elizabeth Garbus. The film tells about

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ellen Eugenia Johnson Sirleaf (born 29 October 1938) is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa. Sirleaf was born in Monrovia to a Gol ...

, the contemporary president of Liberia and Africa's first female president. Over the course of his career, Stack has collaborated with artists and filmmakers from around the world. His films have been distributed through

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, Channel Four, the

Discovery Channel Discovery Channel, known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery, is an American cable channel that is best known for its ongoing reality television shows and promotion of pseudoscience. It init ...

, A&E,

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

, and many other sources. In 1991, Stack founded Gabriel Films, an independent documentary film production company. In 2008, he formed Highest Common Denominator Media Group. Stack and HCD Media Group's newest venture is ''Gabriel City'', an online community for those affected by incarceration in the United States.

Filmography

Films ''The Farm: 10 Down'' (2009)
''The Road to Redemption'' (2008)
''Iron Ladies of Liberia'' (2007)
''Dear Talula'' (2007)
''Sick Humor'' (2003)
''Justifiable Homicide'' (2002)
''The Rodney Hulin Story'' (2001)
''900 Women: Life in St. Gabriel's Women's Prison''] (2001)
''No Escape: Prison Rape'' (2001)
''Fight to the Max'' (2000)
''The Gospel According to Mr. Allen'' (2000)
'' The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison Rodeo'' (1999)
''Shadows of Doubt: The State v. 85188 Vincent Simmons'' (1999)
'' The Farm: Angola, USA (film)'' (1998)
''Final Judgment: The Execution of Antonio James''] (1996)
''Harlem Diary: Nine Voices of Resilience''] (1995)
''Shop Till You Drop'' (1993)
''Boys From the Bronx'' (1993)
''Damned in the USA'' (1991)
''One Generation More'' (1991) Television:
''A Decade Behind Bars: Return to the Farm'' (National Geographic Channel)
''Liberia: An Uncivil War'' (Discovery Times Channel)
''Guns in America: Gun Life'' (Discovery Channel)
''Return of the Kamikaze Kid'' (Discovery Channel)
''New Orleans: Crime in the Crescent City'' (Court TV)
''New York Justice'' (A&E)
''Rite of Passage: Body-Piercing'' (Discovery Channel)
''Medicine Behind Bars'' (Discovery Health)
''Inshallah: Diary of an Afghan Woman'' ( Oxygen (TV channel), Oxygen)
''After 9/11: Rebuilding Lives'' (Discovery Channel)
''Only In America'' (Discovery Times)
''Frontline/World'' (PBS)
''A Chance to Grow'' (Discovery Channel)

Awards

*The Road to Redemption *

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the world's largest documentary film festival held annually since 1988 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Description IDFA is an independent, international meeting place for audiences ...

- Official Selection, 2008 The Farm: Angola, USA (film) *

- Grand Jury Prize, 1998 *

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

- Best Documentary Feature: Nominee, 1999 * Doubletake Documentary Film Festival - Audience Award, 1998 *

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

- 1999 **Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction Programming - Cinematography **Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction Programming - Picture Editing **Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction Programming - Sound Editing: Nominee **Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: Nominee *

Santa Barbara International Film Festival The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is an eleven-day film festival held in Santa Barbara, California in February annually, since 1986. The festival screens over 200 feature films and shorts from different countries and regions. ...

- Best Documentary, 2000 *

Florida Film Festival The Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, is an annual international film festival. Overview The Festival includes narrative and documentary features and shorts, animation, midnight movies, and educational fo ...

- Grand Jury Prize, 1998 *

San Francisco Film Festival The San Francisco International Film Festival (abbreviated as SFIFF), organized by SFFILM, is held each spring for two weeks, presenting around 200 films from over 50 countries. The festival highlights current trends in international film and vi ...

- Golden Gate Award, 1998 * Thurgood Marshall Award, 1999 *

New York Film Critics Circle The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scho ...

- Best Non-Fiction Film, 1998 *

National Society of Film Critics The National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) is an American film critic organization. The organization is known for its highbrow tastes, and its annual awards are one of the most prestigious film critics awards in the United States. In January 2024, ...

- Best Non-Fiction Film, 1999 *

Los Angeles Film Critics Association The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is an American film critic organization founded in 1975. Background Its membership comprises film critics from Los Angeles–based print and electronic media. In December of each year, the organi ...

- Best Documentary Film, 1999 * Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival - Taos Land Grant Award: Nominee, 1998 *

Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...

- Best Documentary: Nominee - 1998 ''Dear Talula'' *

Ashland Independent Film Festival The Ashland Independent Film Festival is held in Ashland, Oregon, United States, and has been organized by the non-profit Southern Oregon Film Society since 2001. Founded by D.W. and Steve Wood, the festival is held each spring over five days at t ...

- Best Short, 2007 * International Cancer Film Festival - 2008 ''Iron Ladies of Liberia'' * Encounters South Africa International Documentary Festival - Among the top 3 International Films ''Liberia: An Uncivil War'' *

- Special Jury Prize, 2004 *

International Documentary Association International Documentary Association (IDA), founded in 1982, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. Their major program areas are: Advocacy, Film ...

- Courage Under Fire Award, 2004 *

- Nominated Twice, 2005 *

Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says that it has more than ten million members a ...

- DOEN Award Winner The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison Rodeo *

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

- Nominee, 2000 *

- Short Documentary Winner, 2000 ''Final Judgment: The Execution of Antonio James'' * CINE Film - Golden Eagle Award, 1996 *

- Winner, 1996 * CableACE Award - Winner, 1996 ''Harlem Diary: Nine Voices of Resilience'' * CINE Film - Golden Eagle Award, 1994 * CableACE Award - Winner, 1994 ''Damned in the USA'' *

International Emmy Award The International Emmy Awards, or International Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. Bestowed by the New York City, New York–based International Academy of Televisi ...

- Best Arts Documentary, 1992 ''One Generation More'' * CINE Film] - Golden Eagle Award, 1991

References

External links

*
"Jonathan Stack"
'' Variety'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Stack, Jonathan 1957 births Living people American documentary filmmakers Film directors from New York City