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James Sweeney (filmmaker)

James Sweeney
Sweeney in 2025
Born1990 (age 35–36)[1]
Sacramento, CA
EducationChapman University
Occupations
  • Director
  • actor
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2019–present

James Sweeney (born 1990) is an American filmmaker and actor. He has written, produced, directed and starred in the comedy-dramas Straight Up (2019) and Twinless (2025).

Life and career

Sweeney speaking at the 2025 Seattle International Film Festival

Sweeney grew up in Alaska.[2] He is gay[3][4] and Asian American.[1]

In 2019, Sweeney directed, wrote, and starred in Straight Up, which had its world premiere at Outfest.[5] The film was released in February 2020 by Strand Releasing.[6][7] Prior to, Sweeney made a proof of concept short film based upon the script Normal Doors for 20th Digital Studio.[8] Sweeney earned a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.[9][10]

Sweeney's film Twinless, which he directed and wrote, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.[11][12] He also starred in the film. Reviewing the film for Variety, Peter Debruge wrote, "On just his second film, the gifted young helmer [Sweeney] demonstrates a sophisticated sense of framing, pace and exquisitely uncomfortable dramatic tension".[13] The film won the Audience Award Dramatic at Sundance.[14]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Straight Up Todd Also director, writer, and producer
2025 Twinless Dennis Also director, writer, and producer

Awards

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Astra Film Awards 2026 Best Indie Feature Twinless Won [15]
Independent Spirit Awards 2026 Best Feature Nominated [16]
Best Screenplay Nominated
New York Film Critics Online 2025 Best Screenplay Nominated [17]
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025 Directors to Watch Won [18]
San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Awards 2025 Special Citation for Independent Cinema Won [19]
Seattle International Film Festival 2025 Best Director Won [20]
Best Film Runner-up
Sundance Film Festival 2025 Audience Award – U.S. Dramatic Won [21]
Grand Jury Prize – U.S. Dramatic Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Dikkers, Jan-Willem (July 14, 2020). "James Sweeney". Issue. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  2. ^ Ragga, Pippa (June 25, 2020). "'Straight Up' Is James Sweeney's Powerful Feature Film Debut". Distractify. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  3. ^ Macaulay, Scott (February 28, 2020). ""The Concept Stemmed from Loneliness…": Writer, Director and Star James Sweeney on his Romantic Comedy, Straight Up". Filmmaker. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Daniel (March 1, 2020). "The Gay Introvert Takes Center Stage in James Sweeney's Straight Up". The Advocate. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Straight Up". Outfest. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Day-Ramos, Dino (August 6, 2019). "Strand Releasing Acquires James Sweeney Comedy 'Straight Up'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Straight Up". Strand Releasing. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Small, Courtney (August 7, 2015). "Shorts Spotlight: Normal Doors". Cinema Axis. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Moser, Joey (March 29, 2021). "Indie Spirit Nominee James Sweeney On Creating a Unique Romantic Comedy with 'Straight Up'". Awards Daily. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "2021 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced!". Film Independent. January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 15, 2024). "Dylan O'Brien Sets 'Twinless' With James Sweeney Directing & Starring; Republic Pictures Takes Global On Three Point Capital & David Permut Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Debruge, Peter (January 24, 2025). "'Twinless' Review: Two Guys Mourning the Loss of a Twin Connect in an Ingeniously Squirmy and Borderline Inappropriate 'Bromance'". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  14. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2025). "'Atropia' Takes U.S. Grand Jury Prize Dramatic At Sundance Film Festival: Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  15. ^ Alter, Ethan (November 25, 2025). "'One Battle After Another' leads Astra Film Awards nominations". GoldDerby. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 3, 2025). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Train Dreams', 'The Plague', 'Sorry, Baby', 'Twinless' & 'Peter Hujar's Day' In Best Feature Race". Deadline. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  17. ^ "AwardsWatch - New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads with 11". AwardsWatch. December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  18. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (November 19, 2024). "'The Substance,' 'The Piano Lesson,' 'Babygirl' Filmmakers Selected for Variety's 2025 Directors to Watch". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  19. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2025). "The 2025 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  20. ^ Carey, Matthew (May 26, 2025). "Seattle International Film Festival: 'Seeds,' 'Tinā,' 'Suburban Fury,' 'The Crowd' Among Top Prize Winners". Deadline. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2025). "'Atropia' Takes U.S. Grand Jury Prize Dramatic At Sundance Film Festival: Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  • Media related to James Sweeney (filmmaker) at Wikimedia Commons
  • James Sweeney at IMDb 
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