Jem Cohen is a New York based media artist blending video, Super 8 and 16 mm film into what might be described as "documentary poetry". Falling somewhere between documentary, experimental and narrative genres, the work remains accessible and from-the-heart, as well as formally and intellectually challenging. Projects are often built from an archive of undirected street footage, gathered over the years in hundreds of locations. The goal is to create a poetics of the illuminated screen; to renew awareness of simple mysteries and the beauty and violence of the street; to use video technology without being used by it; to reclaim moving pictures and sound from the commercial vacuum. Cohen's work with musicians seeking alternatives to generic music video has resulted in three videos for R.E.M., and projects with other bands including But- thole Surfers and Fugazi. Cohen has also joined with an independent media group, C- hundred Film Corp., in making a series of public service announcements and he is also one of the founding directors of "Late City Final", an ongoing documentary project on Times Square. Cohen graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art/Film and Photography. His work has been screened internationally at numerous festivals and venues such as New York's Museum of Modern Art, and through broadcast on BBC 2, Spain's TVE, and USA's WNET.