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Paul A. Kaufman is a filmmaker born in the United Kingdom, recognized for his multiple Emmy Awards in television directing and producing.
He is currently writing DECK THE HALLS for CBS/Paramount+ slated for release in 2025, where he is also attached as director and executive producer.
Paul recently made his feature film directing debut with the independent film "BUTTER," which opened in 300 theaters nationwide and is now available on Amazon Prime. The story centers on Butter, a lonely, obese teenager who plans to make history by eating himself to death live online, inviting everyone to watch. When he announces his plan to classmates, he expects pity, insults, or indifference, but instead, cheerleaders rally behind his deadly goal. Their dark support starts to feel like popularity, which brings him comfort. The film explores themes of teenage bullying and suicide prevention and stars Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino alongside Annabeth Gish and Ravi Patel.
Kaufman’s directorial debut was with his long-cherished project "Run the Wild Fields" for Showtime, which earned multiple critical accolades including an Emmy Award for Best Director. The drama follows a North Carolina woman and her daughter who take in a mysterious drifter to help with their farm while her husband is missing in action during WWII. The cast includes Joanne Whalley, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Alexa Vega.
He has directed "Ransom" for CBS, a new series by Frank Spotnitz ("Man in the High Castle," "The X-Files"), co-produced by Global Television, CBS, and TF1. Kaufman is a frequent director on the top-rated CBS series "NCIS: Los Angeles" and recently directed the premiere episode of "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders," a Gary Sinise spin-off of "Criminal Minds." He is also regularly involved with the critically acclaimed series "Rogue" on DirecTV, starring Cole Hauser and Thandie Newton.
Paul received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Outstanding Direction for the film "Twist of Faith," a drama about a gospel singer in Alabama who falls in love with a troubled cantor from New York who has suffered a tragic loss. The movie features Toni Braxton, David Julian Hirsh, and Mykelti Williamson.
With over 70 hours of prime-time television produced and directed, Kaufman has held overall producing deals with Warner Brothers/HBO, Artisan, Alliance Atlantis, and Fox Television Studios.
He earned a Directors Guild of Canada nomination for Best Director for the television movie "Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling Story," starring Poppy Montgomery as the author of Harry Potter. Kaufman also produced the film, which won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Television Movie or Miniseries.
He won an NAACP Award for Best TV Movie or Miniseries for producing and directing "Sins of the Mother," starring Jill Scott and Nicole Beharie. Jill Scott also won the NAACP Award for Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries.
Kaufman directed the Imagen Award-winning film "Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story" for Lifetime Television, featuring Judy Reyes and Ana Ortiz ("Ugly Betty").
As a writer, he co-wrote several made-for-TV movies, including "Thirst," starring Adam Arkin, Joely Fisher, and Giancarlo Esposito for NBC, and "Emma's Wish," starring Joanna Kerns and Della Reese for CBS. He also produced the acclaimed CBS film "Jewel," starring Farrah Fawcett and Patrick Bergen, which was nominated for a Humanitas Award.
Kaufman served two terms on the Board of Governors at The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was Chairman of The Primetime Emmy Awards, overseeing the awards show and telecast. He has also served on the Television Committee at BAFTA and has been a guest speaker at AFI, UCLA, USC, and other institutions.
He is a member of The Directors Guild of America, BAFTA, The Writers Guild of America, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Directors Guild of Canada, and The Producers Guild of America. Kaufman holds citizenship in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
