Biography

William Kaufman is an American filmmaker known for creating hard-edged genre films that fuse visceral action with grounded human emotion.

His work explores themes of loyalty, survival, brotherhood, violence, and moral consequence through stories rooted in character as much as spectacle. Blending visceral realism with an instinct for tension, atmosphere, and character, Kaufman has developed a distinctive voice in modern genre cinema.

Kaufman first broke through with the cult action film Sinners and Saints (2010), launching a prolific directing career that has included collaborations with Sony Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Paramount Pictures. While his films are celebrated for their authenticity, tactical precision, and kinetic action sequences, they are equally driven by flawed characters navigating pressure, corruption, family, and survival.

Kaufman recently directed the sci-fi action epic Osiris (2025), starring Linda Hamilton and Max Martini, followed by the action thriller Man of War (2026), starring LaMonica Garrett alongside Jason Patric and Andrew Howard.

Raised in a nomadic family shaped by his father's international work, Kaufman spent his early years living in London, Bangkok, and Japan before eventually settling in Texas and later making New Orleans his home. That global upbringing continues to influence his filmmaking, combining an outsider's perspective with deeply human stories about identity, displacement, loyalty, and survival.
- IMDb mini biography by: Carly Jones

Known for his brutal, realistic shootouts.

Is a former US Army Calvary Scout.

Went to high school and graduated from the International School of Bangkok.

Lives in New Orleans with his wife Nicole.