Tragic news. Jeff Baena has passed away. Best known as screenwriter and film director LiAfter a house (2014), Joshi (2016), Small watches (2017), Horse girl (2020), Spin me round (2022), and for co-writing I heart Huckabees (2004). He is also the husband of actress and producer Aubrey Plaza, and they have been married since 2021.
The circumstances of his death are unclear at this moment, and we will update the post as we learn more. After graduating from New York University's film school, Baena moved to Los Angeles to begin building his career. He became a production assistant to Robert Zemeckis, working on a number of films, followed by a job as assistant editor to writer-director David O. Russell.
Baena is perhaps best known for her co-writing I heart Huckabees which was nominated for the 2004 Gotham Award for Best Picture. In 2014, he made his directorial debut with the film Life after home Which he also wrote. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and was subsequently released by A24. After that, he wrote and directed Joshi Which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for a Grand Jury Prize following a Lionsgate release. Baena wrote and directed Small watches Which was nominated for the Audience Award at the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival and was also released in theatres. In 2020, Baena co-wrote, directed and produced the film Horse girl Which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was released on Netflix shortly after. He also wrote, directed and produced Spin me round Which premiered at the 2022 South by Southwest Film Festival, released by IFC Films.
On television, Baena created, wrote, directed and executive produced the Showtime series, Toast to the cinema.
Baena is survived by wife Aubrey Plaza, mother Barbara Stern, stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena, stepmother Michelle Baena, brother Brad Baena and half-sister and half-brother Bianca Gabai and Jed Fluxman.
The family is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time.
