Ethan Higbee is a multifaceted individual who has made a name for himself in the world of film, music, and art. As a film director, he is most notable for directing the 2008 documentary "The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry", which showcased the life and career of the renowned musician. Additionally, he composed the music for the 2009 biopic "The Carter", which tells the story of Lil' Wayne's life.
Born and raised in coastal Maine, Higbee was an accomplished athlete in his youth, earning six All-American titles in Track & Field and Cross Country. He even captured over 25 individual and team State Championships in various sports, including Track & Field, Cross Country, Swimming, and Soccer. At the age of 14, he was featured in Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Faces in the Crowd" for his impressive achievements in cross country and soccer.
Higbee's athletic prowess led him to participate in the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics National Championships, where he placed third in the 2000m Steeplechase in 1994. However, he decided to pursue his passion for film after being accepted into the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he majored in Film and Painting.
Before attending NYU, Higbee took a unique path by skipping most of his senior year at Mt. Ararat High School to enroll in a film residency at the Maine Media Workshops. After graduating from NYU in 2001, he moved west with his band International Friends and formed the production company Permanent Marks with his collaborator Sebastian Demian.
Higbee's filmography includes the documentary "Haro Hara: Pilgrimage to Kataragama" (2006),which follows Tamil devotees of Lord Murugan on the ancient Pada Yatra pilgrimage in war-torn Sri Lanka. This film is significant for several reasons, as Higbee and director Samuel Holt were among the first to capture footage in restricted areas held by the LTTE, and they were able to document never-before-seen rituals and ceremonies in Eastern Sri Lanka.
In addition to his work in film, Higbee has also made a name for himself in the music world. He has scored numerous films, released several albums with his band International Friends, and has produced songs for notable artists such as Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Lil B The Basedgod. In 2008, he released a solo album titled "Viper in a pre dawn raid" under the stage name nahte.
In 2010, Higbee opened Dem Passwords Gallery in Los Angeles, showcasing his passion for art and visual culture. In 2013, he co-founded the production company Rain Dominion with collaborator Adam Bhala Lough, which produced the skateboard documentary series "The Motivation" (2013). The documentary series became the #1 documentary on Itunes for 13 consecutive days upon its release.
Higbee is currently working on several projects, including a film about the life of Cuban Boxer Teófilo Stevenson, which is a co-production with the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC). With his diverse range of talents and experiences, Ethan Higbee has established himself as a multifaceted creative force in the world of film, music, and art.
