Open City Films is a New York-based production company dedicated to the production of high-quality independent films that are both financial and critical successes. Throughout their prolific careers, founders Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente have produced pioneering works by first-time filmmakers and have championed the distinctive visions of established directors. Best known as producers of award-winning auteur films, Kliot and Vicente have also successfully produced commercial box office hits as well as award-winning theatrical documentaries.
As recognized leaders in the independent film industry, Kliot and Vicente have produced over 30 films by such acclaimed directors as Jim Jarmusch, Miguel Arteta, Brian De Palma, Hal Hartley, Steven Soderbergh, Nicole Holofcener and Todd Solondz. Kliot and Vicente co-founded Open City Films twelve years ago. They also co-founded the groundbreaking digital production company BLOW UP PICTURES as well as High Definition production studio HDNet Films, which they co-founded with Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. Having launched their careers in Europe, Kliot and Vicente have produced films throughout the world.
JASON KLIOT
FOUNDER
Jason Kliot is the producer of over 40 feature films by such acclaimed directors as Jim Jarmusch, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Miguel Arteta, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, Alex Gibney, and Todd Solondz. Throughout his career, he has produced innovative works by first-time filmmakers while championing the distinctive visions of established directors. Jason has produced a wide variety of films, ranging from auteur-driven projects to successful commercial box-office hits as well as award-winning theatrical documentaries. Kliot's films have been selected to and won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, The Cannes International Film Festival, and the Venice International Film festival, including two Sundance Grand Jury Prizes and Venice's Silver Lion for Best Director, among others. His films have also been nominated for over 25 Independent Spirit awards. He has been nominated for an Academy Award.
Jason is also recognized as a leading figure of the digital film revolution. His pioneering digital production companies Blow Up Pictures and HDNetFilms, which he launched with partners Joana Vicente, Mark Cuban, and Todd Wagner, ushered in a new era of digital filmmaking which radically transformed the landscape of American independent film production and distribution.
Jason also has cross-platform experience in interactive media. He has developed a proprietary platform for distribution of video content, and in the process has consulted with the Hearst Corporation, Condé Nast, and other media companies on new media content and platforms.
A graduate of Amherst College, Jason was a post-graduate fellow at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris and is an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate Film Departments of both New York University's Tish School of the Arts and Columbia University's School of the Arts.
He is also one of the founders of City Harvest, the nation's oldest food rescue organization.
JOANA VICENTE
FOUNDER
Joana Vicente is an award-winning producer and a passionate supporter of independent storytellers who have extensive experience running nonprofits and enterprises in the film and media space.
Most recently Joana was the CEO of Sundance Institute. Prior to joining Sundance Institute, she spent three years as Executive Director and Co-Head of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the TIFF organization. Before that, she spent nearly a decade as the Executive Director of the not-for-profit Independent Filmmaker Project (now the Gotham Film & Media Institute).
Vicente has produced/executive produced over 40 feature films by acclaimed directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Nadine Labaki, Brian De Palma, Amir Naderi, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, Katherine Dieckmann, Alex Gibney and Todd Solondz.
She is recognized as a leading figure of the digital film revolution, having co-founded pioneering digital production companies Blow Up Pictures and HDNetFilms, which she launched with partners Jason Kliot, Mark Cuban, and Todd Wagner. These companies ushered in a new era of digital filmmaking that transformed the landscape of American independent film production and distribution.
Vicente was named one of Variety’s Women That Have Made an Impact in Global Entertainment and Gotham 60: Most Influential New Yorkers in Entertainment and Media and has been listed multiple times in Variety’s Women’s Impact Report. She is a recipient of the Made in New York Award©, which she received from Mayor Mike Bloomberg for her significant contributions to the growth of NYC’s media and entertainment industries. Vicente was an adjunct professor at NYU Stern Business School, where she taught The Business of Film.
Before turning her attention to film, Vicente served as a press attaché at the European Parliament for former Prime Minister and Portuguese delegate Maria de Lourdes Pintassilgo and was a radio news producer/host for the United Nations.