Andrew Jarecki (born March 24, 1963) is an American filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur. He is best known for the Emmy-winning documentary series The Jinx. He is also known for the documentary films Capturing the Friedmans (2003) and The Alabama Solution (2025), both winners and nominees at several festivals and awards ceremonies, earning both of them an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film nomination.2004|Oscars.org
Career Jarecki graduated from Princeton University in 1985. He is the co-founder and CEO of Moviefone, which provides film schedules over the Internet and telephone and was sold to AOL in 1999. With producer J. J. Abrams, Jarecki co-wrote the theme song to Felicity, "New Version of You", in 2000.
Jarecki's 2003 documentary about a family, Capturing the Friedmans, his first feature, began as an offshoot from a short film he was making about birthday party clowns, which was titled Just a Clown and released in 2004. It earned him his first Academy Awards nomination for Best Documentary and recognition by the National Board of Review Award for Best Documentary Film.
Jarecki went on to direct the narrative feature All Good Things starring Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, and Frank Langella. The film, inspired by the life of millionaire Robert Durst and the unsolved disappearance of his wife Kathie, was released in 2010.
Along with filmmaking partner Marc Smerling, Jarecki also produced the 2010 documentary film Catfish, and co-produced and directed the documentary series The Jinx, which aired on HBO in 2015. Jarecki plays the drums and sings backing vocals on Bikini Robot Army's single "Joe Strummer's House".
Jarecki directed the 2018 Netflix comedy series Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell.
In 2025 he produced, directed and write the documentary The Alabama Solution about the prison system in Alabama, being praised by critics and being nominated at the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
Personal life Jarecki is the son of financier-philanthropist Henry Jarecki. He is also the brother of documentary filmmaker Eugene Jarecki and finance executive Thomas A. Jarecki, and the half-brother of filmmaker Nicholas Jarecki.
Jarecki lives in New York City with his wife, Nancy Jarecki, and their three children.
Filmography YearFilm or TV seriesCredited asNote Director Producer Writer Composer 2000 Felicity TV series - theme music composer 2003 Capturing the Friedmans Documentary feature 2004 Just a Clown Documentary short 2010 All Good Things Narrative feature 2010 Catfish Documentary feature 2013 Catfish: The TV Show Executive producer, episode: "Derek & Kristen" 2015–24 The Jinx HBO documentary miniseries2018Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell Netflix three-part series 2025 The Alabama Solution Documentary feature
Accolades Academy Awards Year Category Work Result Ref.2004Best Documentary Feature FilmCapturing the Friedmans2026The Alabama Solution
Emmy Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. Primetime Emmy Awards2015Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesThe Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert DurstOutstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program2024Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesThe Jinx: Part TwoOutstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming
Other awards and nominations Award Year Category Work(s) Result Critics' Choice Documentary Awards2025 Best Director The Alabama Solution Directors Guild of America Awards2003 Outstanding Directing for a Documentary Capturing the Freidmans International Documentary Association2025 Best ProductionThe Alabama SolutionLos Angeles Film Critics Association2003 Best Documentary Film Capturing the Freidmans National Board of Review2003 Top Five Documentaries Capturing the Freidmans Freedom of Expression Award Himself New York Film Critics Circle Awards2003 Best Non-Fiction Film Capturing the Freidmans Producers Guild of America Award 2016 Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst 2026 Best Documentary The Alabama Solution Satellite Awards2026Best Documentary FilmThe Alabama SolutionSeattle Film Critics Society2025 Best Documentary Feature The Alabama Solution Sundance Film Festival 2003 Grand Jury Prize Capturing the Friedmans TCA Awards 2015 Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials The Jinx
References
External links
An interview with Jarecki British Film Institute interview NPR interview