Biography
Over the past thirty-five years James Benning (b. 1942) has played a central role in the history of American independent cinema by offering his rigorously structured yet wonderfully graceful films as extended meditations on the American landscape and its social and environmental histories. Benning’s life and work have been shaped by his passionate wanderlust—born in Milwaukee, he lived for intervals in Colorado, the Missouri Ozarks, Illinois and Oklahoma before settling in Val Verde, California in 1987, with car and motorcycle journeys around the country generating such films as I-94 (1975) and Four Corners (1997). His career has been equally restless, ranging from his early experimentation with an avant-garde aesthetic to his embrace, during the 1980s and 90s, of explicitly autobiographical elements and increased human content. With his “California Trilogy” (2000-2001) Benning entered a new phase, refining his formalist style and political concerns while distilling his abiding interest in place and exacting organizational structures.
Directed 77
2020s
- 2026
Eight Bridges
Director
- 2025
- 2024
Breathless
Director
- 2022
TEN YEARS LATER
Director
Exquisite Moving Corpse
Director
The United States of America
Director
- 2021
In Process...
Director
From Bakersfield to Mojave
Director
- 2020
On Paradise Road
Director
PLACE
Director
Maggie's Farm
Director
2010s
- 2019
daylight
Director
Two Moons
Director
- 2018
Telemundo
Director
after Traylor. Thoreau cabin (2008-2018)
Director
glory
Director
L. Cohen
Director
- 2017
Readers
Director
- 2016
Fall Equinox
Director
Spring Equinox
Director
Measuring Change
Director
- 2015
Perimeter
Director
- 2014
Natural History
Director
signs
Director
Data Entry
Director
- 2013
BNSF
Director
- 2012
The War
Director
One Way Boogie Woogie
Director
Easy Rider
Director
Stemple Pass
Director
Nightfall
Director
20 Little Films
Director
- 2011
After Warhol
Director
Faces
Director
YouTube Trilogy: 4 Songs, History, Asian Girls
Director
Twenty Cigarettes
Director
- 2010
Tulare Road
Director
Pig Iron
Director
Among Enemies: Jeonju Digital Project 2010
Director
John Krieg Exiting the Falk Corporation in 1971
Director
2000s
- 2009
Ruhr
Director
- 2007
Casting a Glance
Director
- 2005
One Way Boogie Woogie/27 Years Later
Director
74.78
Director
- 2004
13 Lakes
Director
- 2002
- 2001
Los
Director
- 2000
El Valley Centro
Director
1990s
- 1998
Utopia
Director
- 1997
Four Corners
Director
- 1996
Deseret
Director
- 1995
Panama: Exploring the Panama Canal
Director
- 1992
North on Evers
Director
1980s
- 1989
Used Innocence
Director
- 1988
TABLE TOP
Director
- 1987
Landscape Suicide
Director
- 1985
O Panama
Director
- 1984
American Dreams (Lost and Found)
Director
- 1982
Him and Me
Director
1970s
- 1979
Grand Opera: An Historical Romance
Director
- 1977
11 x 14
Director
One Way Boogie Woogie
Director
- 1976
- 1975
9-1-75
Director
The United States of America
Director
- 1974
Michigan Avenue
Director
8½ x 11
Director
I-94
Director
- 1972
Time and a Half
Director
Wrote 13
2020s
- 2026
- 2022
The United States of America
Writer
- 2020
Maggie's Farm
Writer
2010s
- 2012
Easy Rider
Writer
All That She Surveys
Writer
- 2011
Twenty Cigarettes
Writer
- 2010
Pig Iron
Writer
2000s
- 2009
Ruhr
Writer
1980s
- 1989
Used Innocence
Writer
- 1987
Landscape Suicide
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Grand Opera: An Historical Romance
Writer
- 1977
11 x 14
Writer
One Way Boogie Woogie
Writer
Acted in 9
2020s
- 2020
On Paradise Road
Movie
2010s
- 2019
中孚 61. The Inner Truth
Movie
- 2013
Coming to Terms
The Father
- 2012
Stemple Pass
Ted Kaczynski (voice)
- 2011
The Great Gatsby in Five Minutes
Owl Eyes
1980s
- 1989
Forevermore: Biography of a Leach Lord
Movie
Used Innocence
(voice)
1970s
- 1975
The United States of America
Movie
Camera 9
2020s
- 2020
Maggie's Farm
Director of Photography
2010s
- 2012
Easy Rider
Director of Photography
Stemple Pass
Director of Photography
- 2010
Pig Iron
Director of Photography
2000s
- 2009
Ruhr
Director of Photography
- 2007
Casting a Glance
Director of Photography
1980s
- 1987
Landscape Suicide
Director of Photography
- 1985
O Panama
Director of Photography
1970s
- 1977
11 x 14
Director of Photography
Produced 9
2020s
- 2022
2010s
- 2018
Telemundo
Producer
- 2012
Easy Rider
Producer
Stemple Pass
Producer
- 2010
Pig Iron
Producer
2000s
- 2007
Casting a Glance
Producer
- 2004
1980s
- 1987
Landscape Suicide
Producer
1970s
- 1977
11 x 14
Producer
Edited 8
2020s
- 2020
Maggie's Farm
Editor
2010s
- 2012
Easy Rider
Editor
Stemple Pass
Editor
2000s
- 2009
Ruhr
Editor
- 2007
Casting a Glance
Editor
1980s
- 1987
Landscape Suicide
Editor
- 1985
O Panama
Editor
1970s
- 1977
11 x 14
Editor
Sound 3
2000s
- 2009
Ruhr
Sound Editor
- 2007
Casting a Glance
Sound
1980s
- 1985
O Panama
Sound
Appearances7
2020s
- 2021
Benning's Dream
Self (voice)
2010s
- 2018
Telemundo
Himself
L. Cohen
Himself
- 2013
Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater
Self
- 2012
Maintenance
Himself
2000s
- 2003
James Benning: Circling the Image
Himself
1990s
- 1997
Four Corners
Narrator
Thanked in the credits4
2010s
- 2019
The Wrecker Kings
Thanks
- 2015
Santa Teresa & Other Stories
Thanks
2000s
- 2007
Water Spell
Thanks
1980s
- 1989
Forevermore: Biography of a Leach Lord
Thanks