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Jeff Byrd
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Jeff Byrd

A native of Brooklyn, Jeff Byrd is a protégé of Spike Lee. Jeff started his film career by working on several of Lee's films including Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, and Jungle Fever. Spike actually loaned Jeff the equipment to make his first music video. Now, over ten years later, Jeff has directed a myriad of R&B and hip-hop music videos, television, film, and commercials.

After doing many music videos, Jeff crossed over into film with his award winning short Breakdown. After claiming the first place prize at the Acapulco Black Film Festival, Jeff grabbed that attention of television networks and film executives. After the success of his short film, Jeff went on to write, produce, and direct his first feature film Book Of Love…The Definitive Reason Men Are Dogs. Co-written with Eric George, the film screened with glowing reviews at Slam Dance Film Festival and was acquired by BET Pictures for distribution. With an amazingly low budget, Jeff was able to deliver an amazing cast including heavyweights, Richard T Jones, Treach, Robin Givens, Salli Richardson, and Mari Marrow. With the success of Book Of Love Jeff was given the opportunity to direct the Showtime Networks' original film Seventeen Again starring, Tia and Tamara Mowry. The film went on to win a Parent Choice Award and The Best Work In Progress Award at the Acapulco Film Festival.

Now on a roll, Jeff went to direct his second independent film, Final Breakdown, based on his award-winning short. Again, with a low budget Jeff was able to attract major actors like Regina King, Blair Underwood, and Craig Sheffer to his film. Jeff 's third feature film, Jasper, Texas, the compelling story of the Texas town that was turned upside down by the 1998 dragging of a black man, received rave reviews. Jasper, Texas stars Academy Award Winners Lou Gossett Jr. and Jon Voight. The film debuted on Showtime in June 2003, the 5th anniversary of the killing and has since been nominated for a 2004 NAACP Image Award.

On top of doing over 20 music videos, three feature films, and an award winning short film, Jeff has directed four episodes of the critically acclaimed television series Soul Food. With several projects in development, Jeff Byrd is dedicated to bringing new stories of Black America to life.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2005.

Jeff Byrd Facts

OccupationDirector
BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York, USA

Selected Filmography

Not available.