Ari Gold is a multifaceted creative individual who wears many hats, including film director, poet, musician, and founder/president of Grack Films. His cinematic endeavors have garnered widespread recognition, with his films screened at esteemed festivals such as Sundance, Telluride, Karlovy-Vary, and hundreds of others, earning over fifty prestigious prizes along the way. Notably, he has taken home the award for Best Film at SXSW on two occasions and has won the Student Oscar.
As of late 2024, Ari is currently in post-production for his third and fourth feature films. Brother Verses Brother, a musical odyssey that takes audiences on a journey through the streets of San Francisco, serves as a companion piece to his first book of poetry, Father Verses Sons, published by Rare Bird Lit in 2024. Helicopter, which builds upon his Student Oscar-winning short film about his mother's passing, features legendary director Alejandro Jodorowsky and promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally charged cinematic experience.
Prior to his current projects, Ari directed the romantic drama The Song of Sway Lake, which made its way to 52 international film festivals, winning Best Feature at over a dozen of these prestigious events. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Rory Culkin, Robert Sheehan, and Mary Beth Peil. His debut feature film, the air-drum cult comedy Adventures of Power, received widespread critical acclaim, with NY Magazine hailing it as "One of the funniest films in recent years." The film premiered at Sundance and Karlovy-Vary, featuring an all-star cast that includes Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Nick Kroll, and Adrian Grenier.
In addition to his film work, Ari has a dozen other projects in various stages of development, including films and television shows. He also hosts a popular podcast called HotSticks, which delves into the world of drumming and features some of the biggest names in rock music. Ari's unique accomplishments include being named High Times Magazine's "Stoner of the Year" for his performance in the rave film Groove and setting a Guinness World Record for commanding the largest air-drum ensemble on earth.
