Benjamin "Benny" Safdie (born February 24, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his collaborative work with his older brother Josh Safdie. The Safdie brothers are recognized for their intense, naturalistic films set in New York City, including *Heaven Knows What* (2014), *Good Time* (2017), and *Uncut Gems* (2019). Benny’s performances and directing style have garnered critical acclaim, with his role as Nick in *Good Time* earning him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male[2][4]. Benny was born and raised in New York City, of Syrian Jewish descent. He grew up between Queens with his father and Manhattan with his mother and stepfather. He attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication in 2008[2][5]. His filmmaking career began with his brother, with early works such as *Daddy Longlegs* (2009), inspired by their childhood experiences, and the documentary *Lenny Cooke* (2013). Together, they co-founded Elara Pictures, their production company responsible for their films and the Showtime series *The Curse* (2023), which Benny co-created, wrote, and starred in[1][2][6]. In addition to his work with Josh, Benny has expanded his solo career, including his 2025 solo directorial debut *The Smashing Machine*, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice International Film Festival. He has also appeared in notable films like Paul Thomas Anderson’s *Licorice Pizza* (2021), *Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret* (2023), *Oppenheimer* (2023) where he portrayed physicist Edward Teller, and the upcoming *Happy Gilmore 2* (2025)[2][4][5]. Benny Safdie is married to Ava Safdie, with whom he has two children. He is known for his strong connection to his Jewish heritage and his focus on capturing authentic, real-life personalities on film[5][6][8].