Jonathan Stack

Jonathan Stack
Jonathan Stack

Jonathan David Stack (born June 2, 1957) is an American documentary filmmaker.

Born in New York City to a teacher and worker, Jonathan spent much of his childhood exploring. He took an early interest to film. His family traveled with him, which inspired him to learn about other cultures and teach himself several foreign languages. Through a chance encounter with a National Geographic film crew, Stack decided to pursue what has been a lifelong interest in film, specializing in documentaries.

During his career, Stack has written, produced and directed over 25 films and 50 television programs. Among the best-known are The Farm: Angola, USA (1998), exploring Louisiana State Prison (LSP) through the lives of six inmates, which he co-directed and co-produced with Elizabeth Garbus. They also collaborated with Wilbert Rideau, a life prisoner who was editor of The Angolite, a prisoner-run magazine, and whose book Life Sentences (1992) recounted the stories of several inmates. This film was honored with the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize and an Emmy Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He had earlier worked with Garbus as director and producer of Final Judgment: The Execution of Antonio James(1996), also filmed at LSP.

Moved by the life of Vincent Simmons, Stack returned to film Shadows of Doubt: Vincent Simmons (2009) about his case. Simmons struggled for years to gain the evidence file in his case, which he finally could read in 1993. He continues to say that he is innocent and was poorly represented; he notes many inconsistencies in evidence, much of which the prosecution suppressed. Stack filmed interviews with family and other residents of Avoyelles Parish, and a meeting of Simmons with the twins who had accused him of rape. Stack also returned to LSP to film The Farm: 10 Down (2009), a follow-up 10 years later with the survivors (including Simmons) among the six men featured in the 1998 The Farm. He continues to be deeply interested in issues associated with incarceration and the criminal justice system in the United States, and has made several films related to this.

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