Lloyd Kaufman

Director/Writer/Producer

“Lloyd Kaufman has directed many of Troma's best-known films, including The Toxic Avenger,” writes New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick, “And he has been cited as a major influence by Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino and Takashi Miike, among others.”  In light of his contribution to today’s cinema, there can be no doubt that what Kaufman has achieved is enormous.  In 35 years, Kaufman, along with partner Michael Herz, has built Troma Studios up to legendary status as a bastion of true independence, the world’s greatest concentration of camp.  Kaufman’s visionary body of work has had a huge impact on today’s mainstream filmmaking.

 

In the late 1960s, Kaufman was enrolled at Yale University, where he met his future partner Michael Herz.  The Troma Universe was born in 1974 with a series of highly original, sexy comedies such as Squeeze Play!, Waitress!, and other titles ending with an exclamation point.  These movies, independent precursors to such later smash hits as National Lampoon’s Animal House and Porky’s, did well financially, although Kaufman continued to work on such outside productions as Rocky and Saturday Night Fever.  Kaufman’s relationship with mainstream Hollywood would not last long.

 

Kaufman achieved new levels of success with his 1984 breakthrough movie, The Toxic Avenger.  The Toxic Avenger led to an animated spin-off series, Toxic Crusaders, several different comic book titles (published by Marvel and Troma’s own independent comic book imprint), and three sequels.  Its success was followed by a string of commercial and artistic triumphs that blended fantasy, heavy action, comedy, and eroticism in a style that the Cinemateque Francais described as “Tromatic,” including the Class of Nuke ‘Em High trilogy, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, and Troma’s War.  These films created an entire generation of young fans some of whom, such as Kevin Smith, Mike Judge, Peter Jackson, and Trey Parker, went on to become filmmakers themselves.  Thanks to these admirers, Kaufman has been asked to make cameo appearances in films like Trey Parker’s Orgazmo and Richard Martini’s Cannes Man.

 

Lately, Kaufman and the Troma Team have begun to win respect from even their harshest critics.  Tromeo and Juliet became a surprise theatrical and critical hit, earning the grand prize at the Fanta Festival in Rome.  Kaufman’s opus, Terror Firmer, inspired by the book All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned From the Toxic Avenger, played for six months in Los Angeles alone.  In addition, Kaufman has been an honored guest at various international film festivals and Troma retrospectives around the world, including the San Sebastian Film Festival, the British Film Institute, the Cinematheque Francaise, the American Cinemetheque, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the UCLA Film Archives.

 

Kaufman has also earned the respect and trust of his peers in and out of the independent filmmaking community.  He has served as Executive Chairman of the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA).  Thanks to his vision of independent cinema’s future on the Internet, Kaufman was asked to help create and currently chairs IFTA’s New Technologies Opportunities Committee.  He has also served on the Board of Trinity School and ECO, the environmental foundation.

 

In January 2000, Kaufman founded the TromaDance Film Festival, which gives filmmakers and audiences alike the opportunity to enjoy a broad spectrum of independent films for free.  He has released a feature length documentary about the Cannes Film Festival, entitled All the Love You Cannes: An Indie’s Guide to the Cannes Film Festival.  His second book, Make Your Own Damn Movie, is in its second printing and has inspired him to teach a series of filmmaking Master Classes at colleges and institutions across the country.  He is also the co-author of the The Toxic Avenger novel, published in June 2006.  His fourth book, Greenlight Your Own Damn Movie, is currently in the works.  Kaufman’s latest film, Poultrygeist, is a chicken-zombie filled satire about the fast-food industry, with some onscreen singing and dancing.  It will begin theatrical distribution in the summer of 2007. 

 

On a personal front, Lloyd Kaufman has three daughters – Lily Hayes, Lisbeth, and Charlotte.  His beloved wife of 33 years, Patricia, is the New York State Film Commissioner.

Recent Recognition