Known for Directing
Joe Swanberg (born August 31, 1981) is an American independent film director, producer, writer, and actor. Known for micro-budget films which make extensive use of improvisation, Swanberg is considered a major figure in the mumblecore film movement. His films often focus on relationships, sex, technology, and the filmmaking process, and include V/H/S (2012), Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007), Win It All (2017), Digging For Fire (2015), and Nights and Weekends (2008), the last of which was co-directed by Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig.
Born
August 31, 1981 (age 45)
Birthplace
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Filmography
197 films, 8 shows


The Sun Never Sets
2026 · 1h 43m · US
While on an unexpected break from her older, divorced boyfriend, a woman runs into her ex-partner, plunging her into a volatile love triangle that threatens to undo her life.


Build the Wall
2020 · 57m · US
Kent is turning 50. He's not thrilled about it. His plans for a fun weekend with Sarah are upended when his friend Kev unexpectedly arrives to build him a wall.


Win It All
2017 · 1h 28m · US
A gambling addict faces a conflict when entrusted with keeping a bunch of money that isn't his.


Digging for Fire
2015 · 1h 23m · US
Tim and Lee are married with a young child. The chance to stay at a fancy home in the Hollywood Hills is complicated by Tim's discovery of a bone and a rusty old gun in the yard. Tim is excited by the idea of a mystery, but Lee doesn't want him to dig any further, preferring that he focus on the family taxes, which he promised to do weeks ago. This disagreement sends them on separate and unexpected adventures over the course of a weekend, as Tim and his friends seek clues to the mystery while Lee searches for answers to the bigger questions of marriage and parenthood.


Happy Christmas
2014 · 1h 22m · US
After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son.


All the Light in the Sky
2013 · 1h 18m · US
An insomniac actress is facing the waning days of her career, when her niece pays a visit to her Malibu house.


Drinking Buddies
2013 · 1h 30m · US
Weekend trips, office parties, late night conversations, drinking on the job, marriage pressure, biological clocks, holding eye contact a second too long… you know what makes the line between “friends” and “more than friends” really blurry? Beer.


24 Exposures
2013 · 1h 17m · US
Billy is a fetish photographer whose models begin to turn up dead. Michael, a melancholic cop, is tasked with investigating him.


Privacy Settings
2013 · 42m
A peeping Tom (Frank V. Ross) stumbles into a mutually beneficial relationship with an exhibitionist.


V/H/S
2012 · 1h 56m · US
When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire one rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they had bargained for.


Stray Bullets
2012 · 27m
A short film by Joe Swanberg included on the DVD of Silver Bullets. "footage from the first month of shooting a film that became Silver Bullets "several of the actors from Silver Bullets are playing different characters here "i hope this provides a window into my improvisatory process "this footage is not sound mixed or color corrected the dialogue is difficult to hear at times" — Joe Swanberg


Marriage Material
2012 · 55m · US
Emily and Andrew, a young couple living in Memphis, agree to babysit their friend’s 6-month-old for a day. The experience causes them to examine their own relationship and their feelings about marriage and children.


Caitlin Plays Herself
2011 · 1h 9m · US
Caitlin, a young Chicago performance artist, struggles to create work that is both personal and political. A piece she performs about the BP oil spill sends her relationship into a tailspin because her onstage nudity bothers her boyfriend.


Silver Bullets
2011 · 1h 10m · US
An actress and her filmmaker boyfriend experience turbulence in their relationship when she accepts a role in a werewolf film.


Art History
2011 · 1h 14m · US
Tension mounts between a director and his lead actress on the set of a sexually explicit low-budget film. As the actress and her co-star develop real feelings for each other, the director's jealousy erupts and he begins sabotaging his own production.


Autoerotic
2011 · 1h 13m · US
Four interconnected Chicago couples explore the boundaries of self-pleasure and sexual exploration.


The Zone
2011 · 1h 13m · US
A mysterious visitor spends the night at an apartment belonging to a young engaged couple and their friend. Over the course of the night and the following day he sleeps with all three roommates and then disappears, leading to conversations about God, life and filmmaking.


Uncle Kent
2011 · 1h 12m · US
A pothead kid's show cartoonist in Los Angeles spends a weekend trying to sleep with his visiting house guest - a woman from New York who he met on Chatroulette.


Blackmail Boys
2010 · 1h 8m · US
After moving to Chicago for art school, Sam begins turning tricks to help pay the bills.


Wrecked
2009 · 1h 13m · US
An edgy drama about a gay teen's tumultuous decent into drugs and anonymous sex, Wrecked smashes cinematic taboos while it spins its cautionary tale. Ryan is an earnest 18-year-old trying to develop a career as an actor and getting his life on the right track. This course is quickly threatened with the sudden arrival of his sort-of ex, Daniel, who arrives at Ryan's door wanting a place to stay.
Birthday Suit
Birthday Suit
2009 · 4m
A spoof behind-the-scenes look at Joe Swanberg's (non-existent) new film, Birthday Suit, about a young couple's "on again, off again" sexual relationship. The (non-existent) film uses cutting edge technology developed at the WETA Workshop to create the illusion of graphic sexual content.


Alexander the Last
2009 · 1h 12m · US
An ensemble drama about a married actress, her sister and their myriad sexual and creative temptations.
One Shot
One Shot
2009 · 1m
A single-shot short produced by Joe Swanberg for the Northwest Film Forum.


Nights and Weekends
2008 · 1h 20m · US
A man and woman must face the tension that builds between them during a long-distance relationship.


Swedish Blueballs
2008 · 5m
An obnoxious American tourist gets more than he bargained for when he meets a Swedish girl on the street in Stockholm.


Hannah Takes the Stairs
2007 · 1h 23m · US
Hannah is a recent college graduate interning at a Chicago production company. She is crushing on two writers at work, Matt and Paul, who share an office and keep her entertained. Will a relationship with one of them disrupt the delicate balance of their friendship?


Thanks for the Add!
2006 · 5m · US
A woman borrows a man's cell phone and makes a call.


LOL
2006 · 1h 21m · US
The relationships of three men are examined through their use of technology.


Kissing on the Mouth
2005 · 1h 18m · US
Ellen is sleeping with her ex-boyfriend while trying to ignore the fact that he's looking for more than just sex. Her roommate, Patrick, isn't helping matters with his secretive and jealous behavior.
Hissy Fits
Hissy Fits
2005 · 7m
Guy gets angry at internet. Meets girl in the shops.
Mikey
Mikey
2003 · 7m
A snapshot of a day in the life of a few young men passing the hours on their skateboards and wasting time out in the garage.


Bless Me Father
2001 · 52m
Documentary and live footage from the final performance of Father Sexy.