# Jim Cummings (filmmaker)

Jim Cummings (born October 31, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, and composer. He is known for writing, directing and starring in the 2016 short film Thunder Road, which he extended into a 2018 feature film of the same name. He also wrote, directed and starred in The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), and The Beta Test (2021). He also starred in The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023).

## Early life and education

Cummings is from New Orleans. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 2009. He relocated to Los Angeles following a divorce and worked as a producer for CollegeHumor.

## Career

For his work in Thunder Road (2018), Cummings won the South by Southwest Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature. He was also nominated for the 2018 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for his work in Thunder Road.
In March 2024, it was announced that Cummings, along with PJ McCabe and Thomas Cross, launched an independent production studio named Cool & Happy Limited.

## Filmography
### Feature films

| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | Notes |
| 2010 | No Floodwall Here | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Feature directorial debut |
| 2014 | Confusion Through Sand | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2015 | The Grief of Others | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2015 | Krisha | No | No | Associate | No | |
| 2015 | 13 Cameras | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2018 | Thunder Road | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Also composer |
| 2020 | Beast Beast | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2020 | The Wolf of Snow Hollow | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2021 | The Beta Test | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Co-written / directed with PJ McCabe |
| 2023 | The Last Stop in Yuma County | No | No | Executive | No | |

### Short films

As a director
* Brothers (2009)
* The Flamingo (2012)
* Us Funny (2016)
* Call Your Father (2016)
* Thunder Road (2016)
* The Mountains of Mourne (2017)
* Hydrangea (2017)
* The Robbery (2017)
* It's All Right, It's Ok (2017)
* Is Now A Good Time? (2024)
As a producer
* The Last Brunch (2024)

### Acting roles

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | This is Jay Calvin | Jay Calvin | Short film |
| 2015 | 13 Cameras | Paul | |
| 2016 | Thunder Road | Jim Arnaud | Short film |
| 2017 | The Mountains of Mourne | Jim | Short film |
| 2017 | The Show About the Show | YouTube Commentator | |
| 2018 | Thunder Road | Jim Arnaud | |
| 2019 | Greener Grass | Rob | |
| 2020 | The Wolf of Snow Hollow | John Marshall | |
| 2020 | The Block Island Sound | Dale | |
| 2021 | The Beta Test | Jordan Hines | |
| 2021 | Halloween Kills | Pete McCabe | |
| 2023 | Barry | Barry Berkman | Episode: "wow" |
| 2023 | The Last Stop in Yuma County | The Knife Salesman | |
| 2025 | Redux Redux | | |
| 2025 | The Righteous Gemstones | | Episode: "Prelude" |

## Awards and nominations
### Film festival awards

| Year | Festival | Film | Award | Result |
| 2014 | USA Film Festival | Confusion Through Sand | Animation | 1st Place |
| 2014 | Indianapolis International Film Festival | Confusion Through Sand | American Spectrum Prize - Best Short | Won |
| 2016 | Sundance Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Jury Prize - Short Film | Won |
| 2016 | SXSW Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Jury Award for Narrative Short | Nominated |
| 2016 | SXSW Film Festival | Thunder Road | Special Jury Award for Acting | Won |
| 2016 | Provincetown International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Jury Award - Best Narrative Short | Won |
| 2016 | Philadelphia Film Festival | Thunder Road | Jury Award - Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2016 | Palm Springs International ShortFest | Thunder Road | Special Jury Award | Won |
| 2016 | Los Angeles Film Festival | Thunder Road | Jury Prize - Outstanding Performance | Won |
| 2016 | HollyShorts Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Short Narrative | Won |
| 2016 | ÉCU Film Festival | Thunder Road | Festival Award - Non-European Shorts | Won |
| 2016 | Chicago International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Audience Choice Award - Best Short Film | Won |
| 2016 | Champs-Élysées Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best American Short Film | Won |
| 2016 | Champs-Élysées Film Festival | Thunder Road | Audience Award | Won |
| 2016 | Atlanta Film Festival | Thunder Road | Jury Award - Best Short Film | Won |
| 2016 | Anchorage International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2016 | ShortList Film Festival | Thunder Road | Creators League Prize | Won |
| 2017 | Sundance Film Festival | The Robbery | Grand Jury Prize - Short Film | Nominated |
| 2017 | SXSW Film Festival | The Robbery | Grand Jury Award - Narrative Short | Nominated |
| 2017 | Champs-Élysées Film Festival | The Robbery | Best American Short | Won |
| 2017 | Anchorage International Film Festival | The Robbery | Best Super Short Film | Won |
| 2018 | SXSW Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature | Won |
| 2018 | Sidewalk Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Narrative Feature | Won |
| 2018 | Seattle International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Jury Prize - New American Cinema Competition | Won |
| 2018 | Seattle International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Golden Space Needle Award- Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2018 | Deauville American Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Prix | Won |
| 2018 | Nashville Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Jury Prize - New Director | Won |
| 2018 | Fayetteville Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Narrative Feature | Won |
| 2018 | Philadelphia Film Festival | Thunder Road | Archie Award- Best First Feature | Nominated |
| 2018 | Munich Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Film by an Emerging Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Buffalo International Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Feature Narrative | Nominated |
| 2018 | Athens Film Festival | Thunder Road | Best Picture | Nominated |
| 2018 | Heartland Film Festival | Thunder Road | Grand Prize - Narrative Feature | Nominated |
Independent Spirit Awards
| Year | Film | Award | Result | Notes |
| 2019 | Thunder Road | John Cassavetes Award | Nominated | Shared with Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker and Benjamin Weissner |