ABOUT STEPHEN KIJAK

Having grown up in Massachusetts with a deep love for music, it seems a given that Stephen Kijak’s most celebrated documentary works have featured legendary music artists.  Whether it be The Rolling Stones, The Backstreet Boys, or X Japan, Kijak excels at finding and capturing the most beautiful kernels of truth in each life.

Kijak put his name on the industry map with his early documentaries, “Cinemania” - a cult hit about five manic-obsessive film buffs in NYC, and “Scott Walker - 30 Century Man” - a BAFTA nominated intimate biography executive produced by David Bowie.  He followed up with “Stones in Exile” commissioned by The Rolling Stones which premiered at the 2010 Director’s Fortnight in Cannes, and “Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made of” which saw a worldwide event-cinema release and broke iTunes pre-sale records.

His 7th and latest feature documentary, “We Are X,” commissioned by X Japan - the most successful band in Japanese history - debuted at Sundance in 2016 and won a Special Jury Award for Editing. Kijak is currently completing his 8th feature documentary, "Skynyrd" and is preparing his first narrative feature, "Shoplifters of the World Unite" starring Sasha Lane, a breakout star in Cannes Jury Prize winner "American Honey."