Portraits by Clay Larsen | Illustrations by Brianna Moore

Jacob Reed is an award-winning director and writer. He’s known for his ability to craft nuanced performances from improvisers and Oscar-winners alike, owed partially to more than a decade as a teacher and performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. His comedic short Gum was an official selection at Raindance and Just For Laughs and won the audience choice award at the Women in Comedy Festival presented by HBO. Jacob also directed the award-winning documentary short Full Picture, executive produced by Rachel Bloom, which premiered at Slamdance, was awarded at several festivals, and qualified for the 95th Annual Academy Awards.

Let’s name drop! Jacob has directed Ving Rhames, Elisabeth Shue, Adam Scott, January Jones, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Hart, Bernie Sanders, and C3PO. He did not lose his cool with any of those people, however, he once ran into Richard Kind at craft services and flop-sweated.

Jacob has directed for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central, Funny or Die, Nickelodeon and BuzzFeed. His ability to tap into pop-cultural moments has resulted in hundreds of millions of views for his videos, which as we know are the crack cocaine of the Internet.

Commercial clients include Miller Lite, Ford, IKEA, Chili’s, Amazon, Macy’s, LEGO, Google, Hot Wheels, Hasbro, Coffee-mate, Wendy’s, Best Buy, LG, Whiskas, and many others.

Jacob likes hiking, making stop-motion LEGO videos, and once voiced one of the Ninja Turtles. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two kids.

AWARDS/FESTIVALS

WEST EUROPE INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2022 “Full Picture”
HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2022 “Full Picture”
LOS ANGELES LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL 2022 “Full Picture”
FUSION INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2022, Nominee Best Short Documentary, “Full Picture”
CHAMPION FILM SALON INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2022, Best Documentary Short, “Full Picture”
CINEMA TOUCHING DISABILITY 2022, Semi-Finalist, “Full Picture”
FLICKERS’ RHODE ISLAND INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2022, Semi-Finalist, “Full Picture”
SALUTE YOUR SHORTS FESTIVAL 2022 “Gum”
BRAVEMAKER FILM FEST 2022 “Full Picture”
ATLANTA DOCUFEST 2022 “Full Picture”
CLEVELAND INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2022 “Full Picture”
SEDONA INTL FILM FESTIVAL 2022 Best Comedy, “Gum”
LOS ANGELES SUPER SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Best Documentary, “Full Picture”
PITTSBURGH SHORTS & SCRIPT COMPETITION 2021 “Full Picture”
TALLGRASS FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
IMAGINE SCIENCE FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
FAIRFIELD FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
VENICE FILM WEEK 2021 “Full Picture”
VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
AWARENESS FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
SAN JOSE INT’L SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
LUNENBURG DOC FEST 2021 “Full Picture”
LOUDOUN ARTS FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
ARLINGTON INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
UNITED NATIONS ASSN FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
FOOTCANDLE FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
NHdocs 2021 “Full Picture”
WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
SAN DIEGO INT’L SHORTSFEST 2021 “Full Picture”
DEEP IN THE HEART FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
INDYSHORTS INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2021 “Full Picture”
SAN LUIS OBISPO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Best Narrative Short Film, “Gum”
SAN LUIS OBISPO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Best Documentary Short Film, “Full Picture”
DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL 2021, “Full Picture”
SLAMDANCE 2021 Best of Fest, Honorable Mention, “Full Picture”
NEW JERSEY INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2021, “Gum”
REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL 2021, “Full Picture”
SYDNEY WORLD FILM FESTIVAL 2021, “Gum”
SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2021, Best of Fest, Honorable Mention, “Full Picture”
BRUSSELS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
LONDON SUPER SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
SCENE IT AWARDS 2020 Best Dialogue, “Gum”
TALLGRASS FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
JUST FOR LAUGHS 2020, 2nd Place Best Comedy, “Gum”
SHORT FOCUS FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
BOSTON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
SCI-ON FILM FESTIVAL 2020 Best Comedy, “Gum”
EL DORADO FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
OAKLAND SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
CALABASAS FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
WOMEN IN COMEDY FESTIVAL 2020, Industry Choice Award, “Gum”
SAN JOSE INT’L FILM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2020, “Gum”
COWICHAN VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL 2018, Best Comedy, “The Audition”
LOS ANGELES TV, SCRIPT AND FILM FESTIVAL 2018, Best Short Film, “The Audition”

PRESS

AWARDS DAILY Shorts Exclusive: Rachel Bloom Joins Doc Short Contender ‘Full Picture’ as Executive Producer
DEADLINE Slamdance Reveals Full Lineup For 2021 Hybrid Edition, Launches ‘Unstoppable’ Programming Highlighting Disabled Creators
DOWNTOWN AKRON ReelAbilities Film Festival Cleveland @ Akron Films By Women, About Women
FILM AND TELEVISION BUSINESS Interview with Full Picture’s Jacob Reed and Santina Muha
FILM AND TV NOW Interview Special: Santina Muha / Jacob Reed: ‘Full Picture’
FILM THREAT Full Picture
GEAUGA COUNTY MAPLE LEAF CFHS STUDENTS VIEW SHORT FILM THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL ILLUMINATE
THE HOLLYWOOD TIMES Full Picture
HORROR BUZZ Full Picture is Acceptance On Wheels
IFILMFESTIVAL 2021 Award Winners For Super Shorts Los Angeles Film Festival Announced
INDIE ACTIVITY ‘Full Picture’ Award-winning Documentary Short Focuses on Unconscious Bias
THE MIGHTY Short Film ‘Full Picture’ Experiments With First Impressions About Wheelchair Users
REDEFINE Superb Short Films at Slamdance 2021