Born and raised in Edina, Minnesota, Jim Burke’s film career spans several genres and range from prestige pictures to wide release films. He is the Academy Award-winning producer of Green Book, directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. The film won 2 additional Academy Awards as well as the Golden Globe for Best Film (Comedy or Musical), the Producers’ Guild Award, the National Board of Review for Best Film and Best Actor, and numerous film festival audience awards across the nation, including the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award.
He operates under his Innisfree Pictures banner, which has a first look producing deal at Focus Features. Films in development include Patience, based off the Dan Clowes graphic novel, and Fruitland, to be written and directed be fellow Minnesota native Bill Pohlad.
Prior to Innisfree, he served as President of Production at Focus Features, where he oversaw the production and releases of numerous titles including Darkest Hour, Victoria and Abdul, The Beguiled, and The Book of Henry.
In 2004, Jim, along with Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, created the production company Ad Hominem. In 2011, he received his first Academy Award nomination for The Descendants. In addition to its 5 Academy Award nominations and win for Best Adapted Screenplay, the film won the Golden Globe for Best Film (Drama) and was named Best Film by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Other notable films produced under Ad Hominem include Downsizing, the Academy Award-nominated film The Savages, and Cedar Rapids.
Prior to Ad Hominem, Burke spearheaded Rysher Entertainment’s foray into feature films and oversaw the development, production and release of the company’s motion pictures. Rysher’s diverse slate included the Sundance Audience Award winner Big Night as well as Primal Fear, Kiss the Girls, Private Parts, and The Saint. Burke also co-produced 2 Days in the Valley, Kingpin, and Election.
Prior to this, Burke was Vice President of Warner Bros. Television Domestic Distribution.