James Belfer is an American independent film and TV producer. He is the founder and CEO of Cartuna, the founder and CEO of Dogfish Pictures, and the founder and managing director of Dogfish Accelerator.
Early life Belfer grew up on Long Island, New York. He received his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in 2009. That same year, Belfer founded Dogfish Pictures with co-founder Michelle Soffen to finance and produce several feature films per year.
He attended NYU Stern in 2011 to receive his MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Digital Marketing, and Business Analytics. He was also an Associate for the 2012 Boulder Class of TechStars and an investor in the MESA+ venture fund. In 2012, he created Dogfish Accelerator, the first accelerator program for independent film producers.
Film career Belfer has produced and financed several films, including The Romantics (co-producer), Salvation Boulevard (co-producer), Like Crazy (associate producer), Vamps (co-executive producer), Compliance (executive producer), and Prince Avalanche (producer). He is currently an adjunct professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, teaching strategies for independent filmmaking to undergraduates in Film & Television. In 2015 Belfer alongside Adam Belfer founded the animation studio Cartuna.
In 2024, Belfer began distributing films under the Cartuna brand. He launched a Blu-ray distribution label focused on animation, puppetry, DIY art, and alt-comedy. Films titles released are NUTS!, Adam Green's Aladdin and Hundreds of Beavers. In 2025, he made his first all-rights acquisition with the title Dead Lover.
Filmography Year Title Director NotesAccolates 2010 The RomanticsParamount Vantage Galt Niederhoffer co-producer2010 Sundance Film Festival (premiere) 2011 Salvation Boulevard IFC George Ratliff co-producer2011 Sundance Film Festival (premiere) 2011 Like CrazyParamount Pictures Drake Doremus associate producer2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize (premiere) 2012 VampsAnchor Bay Amy Heckerling co-executive producer 2012 Compliance Magnolia Pictures Craig Zobel executive producer2012 Sundance Film Festival (premiere) 2013 Prince Avalanche Magnolia Pictures David Gordon Green producer2013 Sundance Film Festival (premiere), 63rd Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear for Best Director2016NUTS!Amazon StudiosPenny Laneproducer2016 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize (premiere)2016DivergeGravitasJames Morrisonproducer2017Like MeKino LorberRobert Mocklerproducer2017 SXSW Film Festival (premiere)2017SylvioFactory 25Albert Birney and Kentucker Audleyexecutive producer2017 SXSW Film Festival (premiere)2017Dogs In A ParkComedy Central, Watchable, IFCDaniel Shepard and Keith Shepardexecutive producer2018Human Kind OfFacebook WatchDiana McCorryexecutive producerAnnie Award for Best Animated Television Production, New York Comic Con2018Liverspots and AstronotsFacebook WatchRob Bohn and Nate Miltonexecutive producerNew York Comic Con2018Tammy's Tiny Tea TimePeter Gulsvigexecutive producer2018 Sundance Film Festival (premiere)2018Museum of Human HistoryTopic StudiosDaniel Shepardexecutive producer2019Tux and FannyAlbert Birneyexecutive producerOttawa International Animation Festival (premiere), The New Yorker Best Movies of 20192019Under CoversMichaela Olsenexecutive producer2019 Sundance Film Festival (premiere), Ottawa International Animation Festival, AFI Film Festival2019Science!SyfyNeal Holmanexecutive producer2020Magical Girl Friendship Squad: OriginsSyfyKelsey Stephanidesexecutive producer2020Magical Girl Friendship SquadSyfy, PeacockKelsey Stephanidesexecutive producerSan Diego Comic-Con2020Desus & MeroShowtimeDesus Nice, The Kid Meroanimation producer2020LoafyComedy CentralBobby Moynihanexecutive animation producer2020BlackheadsEmily Ann Hoffmanexecutive producer2020 South by Southwest (premiere)2021Strawberry MansionMusic Box FilmsAlbert Birney and Kentucker Audleyexecutive producer2021 Sundance Film Festival (premiere)2025OBEXAlbert Birneyproducer2025 Sundance Film Festival (premiere)2025By DesignAmanda Kramerexecutive producer2025 Sundance Film Festival (premiere) 2026 Moonfish Daniel Zvereff producer 83rd Venice International Film Festival (premiere)
Festivals Belfer's films have participated in the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, South by Southwest, Locarno International Film Festival, BAMcinemaFest, Seattle International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, and Stockholm International Film Festival. In 2011, Belfer's film Like Crazy won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2013, Belfer's film Prince Avalanche premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the 2013 Berlinale Silver Bear Award for Best Director.
Honors In 2012, Belfer was named "Ten Producers To Keep Watching" by Deadline Hollywood.
Personal life He currently resides in New York City.
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