David Cohen is a filmmaker & editor working across documentary and fiction. His award winning films have screened at Sundance, Venice, Tribeca, SXSW, Hot Docs, DOC NYC, Outfest, IDFA, and more. As an editor, his work has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Picture Editing.
As a director/producer, David’s projects have received support from ITVS, The MacArthur Foundation, The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, Just Films | Ford Foundation, Impact Partners, and The Fledgling Fund.
David co-directed, co-wrote & edited the critically acclaimed feature documentary LOVE & STUFF with Peabody Award winning filmmaker Judith Helfand. Called “an emotionally fecund, funny and deeply resonant work” by The Hollywood Reporter, the film was broadcast on POV/PBS following its international film festival run.
David is currently directing & editing the forthcoming documentary PROFIT & LOSS (with Emmy Winning, Oscar nominated Fenell Doremus, Executive Produced by Emmy and Sundance winner Gordon Quinn) and writing/directing HORIZONTAL POSITIONS, his feature fiction debut.
Editing credits include: the 2x Primetime Emmy nominated PRETTY BABY: BROOKE SHIELDS (Sundance, ABC/Hulu), winner of Cinema Eye Honors’ Outstanding Broadcast Editing Award, Directed by Emmy winner Lana Wilson; the 2x Primetime Emmy nominated LOVE, GILDA (Tribeca Opening Night, CNN Films/Magnolia Pictures); the SXSW Jury Award winning CHRISTOPHER AT SEA (Venice, Sundance, BAFTA Shortlist); Emmy winner Abigail Disney’s THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OTHER FAIRY TALES (Sundance, Story Producer & Editor) and the New York Times Critic's Pick COOKED: SURVIVAL BY ZIPCODE (PBS/Independent Lens, Co-Producer & Editor), Directed by Judith Helfand. His work has been published by The New York Times (Op-Docs), The Nation, Out.com and is on permanent exhibition at The Bob Dylan Center.
David has taught as Adjunct Faculty at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, as a guest and master class instructor at Columbia University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and UC Santa Cruz, has mentored undergraduates at NYU - Tisch and serves as a National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy juror.
A former professional actor, David performed in television, film, and theater (FOX Television, Frameline - San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, The Kennedy Center, HERE Arts Center). Training: The Barrow Group, Meisner technique (Sandra Peabody), Directing Actors (Adrienne Weiss).
David has attended the Sundance Documentary Edit & Story Labs, the Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs, and the BAVC/Tribeca (TFI) Producer’s Institute. He received his B.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.