Jefferson Stein (born February 10, 1989) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for his 2021 film Burros, executive produced by Eva Longoria, which premiered at the 20th Annual Tribeca Film Festival and won the Jury Award in the Live Action Short category at the 25th New York International Children's Film Festival, where it qualified for the 95th Academy Awards.
Background Stein was born in Dallas. The oldest of four, he began making films as a child with VHS camcorders with his siblings, which evolved into making half-hour movies in his teenage years with his school friends. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in the city and the Business Honors Program (BHP) at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2011 he made a short film, Wayfarer, as part of his admission into Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he pursued an MFA degree in directing and studied under Allen Daviau. As a student, he won a Silver Addy Award at the American Advertising Awards.
Beyond his student work, Stein made the film, Tumble Dry Low in 2015 on a shoestring budget of $1,500. It premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Tallinn Black Night Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia, and the San Diego International Film Festival, winning the Gold Remi award in the Live Action Narrative category at the 48th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in Houston. It was featured on Short of the Week and released by Omeleto, where it received over 2.5 million views. With the film, Stein was included in the 2015 Shoot "New Director's Showcase."
Stein's 2015 television advertisement for American Airlines was included in Shoot'''s "Best Work You May Never See." In 2016, he directed documentary shorts featuring UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks and UFC contender Donald Cerrone. In 2018, Stein directed documentary shorts for VICE featuring NBA basketball player Courtney Lee and Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker about becoming the first female athlete to slam dunk in a basketball game.
In 2020, Stein's script, Man in the Maze (I'itoi), a narrative feature set in the same world as Burros, was selected as a quarterfinalist for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. In 2021, his short film, Burros, premiered at the 20th Annual Tribeca Film Festival after it was developed through fiscal sponsorship by Film Independent. The film has a cast of first-time actors from the Tohono O'odham Nation, where it is set and focuses on the Tohono O'odham living on the Mexico–United States border, immigration, and the Mexican drug war. Burros'' qualified for the 95th Annual Academy Awards after its Jury Award win in the Live Action Short category at the 25th Annual New York International Children's Film Festival. The festival jury included Uma Thurman, Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Kyle MacLachlan.
Stein lives in Los Angeles.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes2011WayfarerDirector, producer, writerNarrative short2012The AnimalDirector, writerNarrative short2013T. and SugarDirector, writerNarrative short2015Tumble Dry LowDirector, producer, writerNarrative short2021BurrosDirector, producer, writerNarrative short
Awards and nominations
Film festival awards YearAwardFilm FestivalRecipientsResult2015Gold Remi Award - Live Action Narrative Short SubjectWorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalTumble Dry LowBest Short Film - Honorable MentionSENE Film, Music and Art Festival2021Best Short FilmRhode Island International Film FestivalBurrosBest Narrative Short - Jury AwardSidewalk Film FestivalBest Short FilmHollyShorts Film FestivalBest Short Film - PanoramaTirana International Film FestivalBest Narrative Short - Grand Jury PrizeNashville Film FestivalNAHCC's Best Hispanic Film at Nashville Film Festival AwardBest Short Film - Live ActionEdmonton International Film FestivalBest Narrative Short - Jury AwardPortland Film FestivalBest Narrative Short FilmBendFilm FestivalBest Narrative Short - Audience ChoiceSanta Fe Independent Film FestivalInternational Competition - Best Short FilmKerry Film FestivalJury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble CastTallgrass Film FestivalBest International Short FilmEvolution Mallorca International Film FestivalPronck Shorts Competition AwardLeiden International Film FestivalBest Short Fiction FilmLeeds International Film FestivalBest Live Action Short FilmChicago International Children's Film Festival2022Best International FilmMinimalen Short Film FestivalJury FavoriteNitehawk Shorts FestivalAudience Award (ages 10+)New York International Children's Film FestivalJury Award Live Action Short FilmBest Short Film AwardMiami International Film FestivalBest Dramatic ShortArizona International Film FestivalOfficial Competition supported by Sony - Best Short AwardShort Shorts Film Festival & AsiaMaremetraggio Competition - Best Short FilmShorTS International Film FestivalBest Indigenous FilmCordillera International Film FestivalBest Dramatic Short - 2nd Runner UpWoods Hole Film FestivalMoonwalker Short Award - Best Short FilmNòt Film FestBest Narrative Short - Jury AwardAlbuquerque Film & Music ExperienceBest Short Film - Audience AwardIndie Street Film FestivalShorts Spotlight: Best of ShowSCAD Savannah Film FestivalNew Wave Jury: Runner UpCornwall Film FestivalBest Live Action Short FilmRNCI Red Nation AwardsBest Short Film - Teenage JuryCinemagic Film Festival - Belfast References
External links
Jefferson Stein Mubi Official web site Burros website