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{{Infobox person
| image              = Abel Ferrara Cannes 2017.jpg
| caption            = Abel Ferrara at the [[2017 Cannes Film Festival]]
| name               = Abel Ferrara
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1951|7|19}}
| birth_place        = [[New York City]], U.S.
| othername          = {{hlist|Jimmy Boy L|Jimmy Laine}}
| yearsactive        = 1971–present
| alma_mater         = {{ubl|
* [[Rockland Community College]]
* [[SUNY Purchase]]
* [[San Francisco Art Institute]]
}}
| occupation         = {{hlist|Director|screenwriter|actor|producer|musician|songwriter}}
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Nancy Ferrara|1982|end=divorced}}
* Cristina Chiriac
}}
| partner            = 
| children           = 3
}}
'''Abel Ferrara''' ({{IPA|it|ferˈraːra|lang}}; born July 19, 1951)<ref>Nicole Brenez, [https://books.google.com/books?id=k8iLpYdw6mMC&dq=nicholas+st+john+abel+ferrara+high+school&pg=PA2 ''Abel Ferrara''], University of Illinois Press, 2007 page 2</ref> is an American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for the provocative and often controversial content in his movies and his use and redefinition of [[neo-noir]] imagery. A long-time independent filmmaker, some of his best known movies include the [[New York City|New York]]-set, gritty crime thrillers ''[[The Driller Killer]]'' (1979), ''[[Ms .45]]'' (1981), ''[[King of New York]]'' (1990), ''[[Bad Lieutenant]]'' (1992), and ''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]'' (1996), chronicling violent crime in urban settings with spiritual overtones.

Ferrara also worked in a wide array of genres, including the sci-fi remake [[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|''Body Snatchers'']] (1993), [[cyberpunk]] thriller ''[[New Rose Hotel (film)|New Rose Hotel]]'' (1998), the religious drama [[Mary (2005 film)|''Mary'']] (2005), the black comedy ''[[Go Go Tales]]'' (2007), and the biopic [[Pasolini (film)|''Pasolini'']] (2014), as well as in several [[documentary]] filmmaking projects.

==Early life==
Ferrara was born in [[the Bronx]] of [[Italians in New York City|Italian]] and [[Irish Americans in New York City|Irish]] descent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|title=MOVIES The Prince of Darkness Director Abel Ferrara practices a kind of gonzo filmmaking, and his violent vision isn't a particularly popular one in Hollywood|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1990-10-28|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59945608.html?dids=59945608%3A59945608&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Oct+28%2C+1990&author=PATRICK+GOLDSTEIN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=MOVIES+The+Prince+of+Darkness+Director+Abel+Ferrara+practices+a+kind+of+gonzo+filmmaking%2C+and+his+violent+vision+isn%27t+a+particularly+popular+one+in+Hollywood&pqatl=google|access-date=2009-11-21|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724221509/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59945608.html?dids=59945608%3A59945608&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Oct+28%2C+1990&author=PATRICK+GOLDSTEIN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=MOVIES+The+Prince+of+Darkness+Director+Abel+Ferrara+practices+a+kind+of+gonzo+filmmaking%2C+and+his+violent+vision+isn%27t+a+particularly+popular+one+in+Hollywood&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was raised [[Catholic]], which influenced much of his work.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/movies/12lim.html |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Struggling With Faith and Gentrification |first=Dennis |last=Lim |date=2008-10-12 |access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref> At 8 years old, he moved to [[Peekskill]] in [[Westchester County, New York]] and he started making movies at [[Rockland Community College]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/2019/05/20/director-abel-ferrara-unrated-moma/3677852002/|title='Bad Lieutenant' filmmaker Abel Ferrara got his start at Rockland Community College|website=lohud.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref> Later, he attended the film conservatory at [[SUNY Purchase]], where he directed several [[short film]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/1338-abel-ferrara-mary/|title=Abel Ferrara, Mary|last=Dawson|first=Nick|website=Filmmaker Magazine|date=October 18, 2008|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>

== Career ==

===Early work (1971–1981)===
[[File:The Driller Killer.jpg|thumb|210px|Ferrara (far right) in The Driller Killer]]
Ferrara studied at the [[San Francisco Art Institute]]; one of his teachers and influences there was the famous [[avant-garde]] director [[Rosa von Praunheim]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Seven nights with Abel Ferrara |url=https://www.americancinematheque.com/series/seven-nights-with-abel-ferrara-a-17-film-retrospective-with-live-scores/ |work=American Cinematheque |access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref> In the early 1970s, while still in art school, Ferrara directed a number of independently produced short films which included ''The Hold Up'' and ''Could This Be Love''. Finding himself out of work after leaving film school in 1976, Ferrara directed his first feature: a [[pornographic film]] titled ''[[9 Lives of a Wet Pussy]]'', using a pseudonym.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pleasure and Pain of Cult Horror Films: An Historical Survey|last1=Paszylk|first1=Bartlomiej|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-3695-8|page=153|chapter=''The Driller Killer''|date=9 March 2009}}</ref> Starring with his then-girlfriend, he recalled having to step in front of the camera for one scene to perform in a hardcore sex scene: "It's bad enough paying a guy $200 to fuck your girlfriend, then he can't get it up."<ref name=Guardian>{{cite interview |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/05/abel-ferrara-interview |title=Abel Ferrara: 'I made Scarface look like Mary Poppins' |date=5 August 2010 |newspaper=The Guardian |interviewer=Andrew Purcell |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Ferrara first drew a [[cult following]] with his second feature film, an [[exploitation film|exploitation]] movie titled ''[[The Driller Killer]]'' (1979), an urban [[slasher film]] about an artist (played by the director himself) who goes on a killing spree with a [[power drill]]. In the United Kingdom, the movie made it on a list of [[Video nasty|"video nasties"]] created by moral crusaders that led to prosecutions under the [[Obscene Publications Act 1959]] and to the passing of [[Video Recordings Act 1984|new legislation]] which forced all video releases to appear before the [[British Board of Film Classification]] for rating.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/education-news/video-nasties| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314004331/http://bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/education-news/video-nasties| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 14, 2013|title=Video Nasties |publisher=British Board of Film Classification|website=bbfc.co.uk|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>

The director's next feature was ''[[Ms .45]]'' (1981), a "[[Rape and revenge film|rape revenge]]" movie about a mute garment worker turned vigilante ([[Zoë Tamerlis]]). Reviewers called it "a provocative, disreputable movie, well worth seeing".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/film/ms-45|title=Ms .45 (2015), directed by Abel Ferrara {{!}} Film review|date=2015-08-22|website=timeout.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822095955/http://www.timeout.com/london/film/ms-45|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=2015-08-22}}</ref>

===Rise to international fame (1984–1998)===
In 1984, Ferrara was hired to direct ''[[Fear City]]'', starring [[Melanie Griffith]], [[Billy Dee Williams]], [[Rae Dawn Chong]] and [[María Conchita Alonso]]. When a "[[kung fu]] slasher" stalks and murders young women who work in a seedy [[Times Square]] [[strip club]], a disgraced boxer portrayed by [[Tom Berenger]] uses his fighting skills to defeat the killer.<ref>{{Citation|title=Fear City (1984) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fear_city|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>

Ferrara worked on two [[Michael Mann]]-produced television series, directing the two-hour pilot for ''[[Crime Story (U.S. TV series)|Crime Story]]'' (aired September 18, 1986), starring [[Dennis Farina]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/5490|title=Crime Story. 1986. Directed by Abel Ferrara|website=[[Museum of Modern Art|MOMA]].org|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> and two episodes of the series ''[[Miami Vice]]''.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.artinterviews.com/abelFerrara.html|title=Abel Ferrara Interview|website=artinterviews.com|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>

''[[King of New York]]'' (1990) stars [[Christopher Walken]] as gangster Frank White, [[Laurence Fishburne]], [[Wesley Snipes]], [[David Caruso]] and [[Giancarlo Esposito]]. The movie received overall mixed reviews, but Ferrara was praised for his strong command of mood and style. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote, "What Ferrara needs for his next film is a sound screenplay."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/king-of-new-york-1990 |title=King Of New York Movie Review (1990) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en |access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>

''[[Bad Lieutenant]]'' (1992) credits Ferrara and actress [[Zoë Tamerlis]], who plays the woman who helps the Lieutenant [[Freebasing|freebase]] [[heroin]] in the movie, as co-writers of the script, but Tamerlis claimed that she wrote it alone.<ref>{{Citation |title=Zoe Tamerlis on the script of "Bad Lieutenant" |date=April 30, 2009 |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68u0cARNjk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/g68u0cARNjk |archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |language=en |access-date=2019-09-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/81012/13-great-facts-about-bad-lieutenant |title=13 Great Facts About Bad Lieutenant |date=2017-11-20 |website=mentalfloss.com |language=en |access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> ''Bad Lieutenant'' received [[Spirit Awards]] nominations for Best Director and Best Actor, and despite its controversial content, the movie was lauded by critics. Director [[Martin Scorsese]] named it one of his top 10 films of the 1990s.<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000226/COMMENTARY/41219001/1023 Roger Ebert & The Movies (show #1426), 26 February 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414001924/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000226/COMMENTARY/41219001/1023 |date=April 14, 2010 }}. Rogerebert.suntimes.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-15.</ref>

In 1993, Ferrara was hired for two Hollywood studio movies: another remake of ''[[Invasion of the Body Snatchers]]'', titled ''[[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|Body Snatchers]]'' (1993), for [[Warner Bros.]]; and ''[[Dangerous Game (1993 film)|Dangerous Game]]'' (1993), starring [[Harvey Keitel|Keitel]] and [[Madonna]], for [[MGM]].

In the mid-1990s Ferrara directed two well-received independent movies:
''[[The Addiction]]'' (1995),<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-addiction-v133607/awards|title=The Addiction (1995): Awards|website=Allmovie.com |access-date=Feb 9, 2014}}</ref> photographed in black-and-white, stars [[Lili Taylor]] as a philosophy student who succumbs to a [[vampire]] as she studies the problem of evil and philosophical [[pedagogy]], represented by the most violent events of the 20th century. The movie also features [[Christopher Walken]], [[Annabella Sciorra]], [[Edie Falco]], [[Kathryn Erbe]] and [[Michael Imperioli]]. It was co-produced by [[Russell Simmons]].

''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]'' (1996),<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-funeral-v136162/awards|title=The Funeral (1996)|website=Allmovie.com |access-date=Feb 9, 2014}}</ref> starring Walken, Sciorra, [[Chris Penn]], [[Isabella Rossellini]], [[Benicio del Toro]], [[Vincent Gallo]] and [[Gretchen Mol]], was nominated for five [[12th Independent Spirit Awards|Independent Spirit Awards]] including [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director|Best Director]].

Following the success of ''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]'', Ferrara had an infamous interview with [[Conan O'Brien]] on October 23, 1996. Ferrara was believed to be intoxicated and struggled through the interview, often slurring and covering his face as well as waving around a cigarette. O'Brien would later state that Ferrara was his "worst guest ever".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/12/conan-obrien-abel-ferrara-worst-interview-guest-1202024783/|title=Conan O'Brien Names Director Abel Ferrara His Worst Guest in 25 Years — Here's Why|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> Eventually, O'Brien revealed to Ferrara's frequent collaborator [[Willem Dafoe]] that Ferrara "ran away" and that the segment producer had to "run down the street" to catch him and bring him back to the set. Dafoe said to O'Brien, "You did your best ... and so did he!"

After making ''[[The Blackout (1997 film)|The Blackout]]'' (1997) with [[Matthew Modine]] and [[Dennis Hopper]], he contributed to the [[Anthology|omnibus]] television movie ''Subway Stories''. Ferrara then made ''[[New Rose Hotel (film)|New Rose Hotel]]'' (1998), which reunited him with Christopher Walken.
[[File:Abel Ferrara.jpg|thumb|210px|Ferrara in 2008]]

===In Europe (2001–present)===
Ferrara returned three years later with ''[['R Xmas]]'' (2001), which starred [[Drea de Matteo]] and [[Ice-T]]. He recorded commentaries for ''Driller Killer''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2016/nov/30/the-driller-killer-humanist-abel-ferrara-moral-choices |title=The Driller Killer and the humanist behind the blood and sickening crunch |last=Righelato |first=Rowan |date=30 November 2016 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> and ''King of New York''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/sep/19/dvdreviews.thriller |title=DVD review: King of New York SE |last=Mackie |first=Rob |date=18 September 2008 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> and made ''[[Mary (2005 film)|Mary]]'' (2005), a religious-themed multi-plot movie starring [[Juliette Binoche]], [[Matthew Modine]], [[Forest Whitaker]], [[Heather Graham]], [[Marion Cotillard]], and [[Stefania Rocca]]. ''Mary'' premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]] in 2005. It swept the awards ceremony, garnering the Grand Jury Prize, SIGNIS Award and two others. It was shown at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2005 TIFF Archives (10 posts)| website=bombippy.com |url=http://www.bombippy.com/archives/movies/2005_tiff/|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref>

In 2007, Ferrara directed ''[[Go Go Tales]]'' a comedy with Modine, [[Bob Hoskins]] and [[Willem Dafoe]] that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival but was not shown in the United States until a special screening at the [[Anthology Film Archives]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/movies/07gogo.html|title='Go Go Tales' With Willem Dafoe − Review|last=Dargis|first=Manohla|date=2011-01-06|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2009, ''Jekyll and Hyde'' was set to star Forest Whitaker and [[50 Cent]]. After disagreements with Warner Bros., the movie was shelved in 2010.<ref name=Guardian/>

In 2009, ''[[Napoli, Napoli, Napoli]]'' premiered out of competition at the [[66th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/30/venice-film-festival-ferrara-herzog|title=Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant joins Venice film festival contenders|date=2009-07-30|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref> The docudrama received little attention and poor reviews but [[Werner Herzog]]'s reboot ''[[Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]'' was selected for competition at the prestigious festival. Asked about the Herzog film, Ferrara was quoted widely saying "I wish these people die in hell".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/30/venice-film-festival-ferrara-herzog|title=Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant joins Venice film festival contenders|last=Brown|first=Mark|date=2009-07-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-12-04|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In September 2011, ''[[4:44 Last Day on Earth]]'', starring [[Willem Dafoe]] and Shanyn Leigh, premiered at the main competition of the [[68th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/lineup/off-sel/venezia68/ |title=Venezia 68: International competition of feature films |access-date=2011-08-28 |work=Venice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927003322/http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/lineup/off-sel/venezia68/ |archive-date=2011-09-27}}</ref>

Ferrara's ''[[Welcome to New York (2014 film)|Welcome to New York]]'', a fictionalized version of the [[Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case]] starring [[Gérard Depardieu]] and [[Jacqueline Bisset]], was released on [[video on demand]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/cannes-film-festival-strauss-kahn-film-under-fire/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|title=Cannes Film Festival: Strauss-Kahn Film Under Fire|access-date=June 15, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 18, 2014|first=Rachel|last=Donadio}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Child|first=Ben|title=Gerard Depardieu to star in film inspired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/feb/06/gerard-depardieu-dominique-strauss-kahn|access-date=April 17, 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 6, 2012|location=London}}</ref> Ferrara's ''[[Pasolini (film)|Pasolini]]'' (2014) about the titular [[Pier Paolo Pasolini|Italian director]] stars [[Willem Dafoe]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/director-abel-ferrara-mysterious-1975-691898|title=Director Abel Ferrara on Mysterious 1975 Death of Pier Paolo Pasolini: 'I Know Who Killed Him'|access-date=June 15, 2014|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 28, 2014}}</ref>

After a 4-year long hiatus, Ferrara came back in 2019 with [[Tommaso (2019 film)|''Tommaso'']], a new feature starring Dafoe and set in Rome. The film had its world premiere at the [[72nd Cannes Film Festival]] on 20 May 2019. It was released in the United States by [[Kino Lorber]].

The following year, with ''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]'' (2020), Ferrara and Dafoe collaborated for the sixth time. Inspired by [[Carl Jung]]'s ''[[The Red Book (Jung)|The Red Book]]'', the script was written by Ferrara and [[Chris Zois]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr.|title=He's Back! Abel Ferrara To Launch Willem Dafoe-Starrer 'Siberia' On Croisette|date=14 May 2015|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]| url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/abel-ferrara-willem-dafoe-siberia-cannes-1201426703/|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rife |first=Katie |title=Get Involved, Internet: Help Abel Ferrara and Willem Dafoe make a movie about dreams |date=14 May 2015 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/get-involved-internet-help-abel-ferrara-and-willem-219468 |access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the [[70th Berlin International Film Festival]], on 24 February 2020. It was released in the United States by [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] in 2021. Shortly after Ferrara directed the documentary ''[[Sportin' Life (2020 film)|Sportin' Life]]'', about the beginning of [[quarantine]] measures in [[Europe]] a few days after the [[Berlinale]] premiere of ''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]'', during the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Encinias |first=Joshua |date=2020-06-04 |title=Abel Ferrara on Filmmaking in Quarantine and the Spiritual Quest of Tommaso |url=https://thefilmstage.com/abel-ferrara-on-filmmaking-in-quarantine-and-the-spiritual-quest-of-tommaso/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> The documentary had its world premiere at the [[77th Venice Film Festival]] on 4 September 2020.

Since 2020 he has interpreted [[Gabriele Tinti (poet)|Gabriele Tinti]]'s poetry giving voice to the masterpieces in the [[Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica]], [[Pinacoteca di Brera]], [[Museo Nazionale di San Marco]], [[Ca' d'Oro]], [[Musée Jacquemart-André]] and [[Museo Nazionale Romano]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://purple.fr/diary/abel-ferrara-reads-gabriele-tintis-poems-at-the-pinacoteca-di-brera-milan/| title=Abel Ferrara reads Gabriele Tinti's poems at the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan |date=2021-02-11 |access-date=2023-09-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.raicultura.it/letteratura/articoli/2021/03/Abel-Ferrara-legge-Bleedings-di-Gabriele-Tinti-ffc15582-fe2f-421b-bd6a-9c97ef9b2218.html |title=Abel Ferrara reads Gabriele Tinti's poems |access-date=2023-09-07}}</ref>

In August 2021, ''[[Zeros and Ones]]'', starring [[Ethan Hawke]], had its world premiere at the main competition of the [[74th Locarno Film Festival]], during the festival Ferrara won the [[Best Direction Award (Locarno International Film Festival)|Best Direction Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiang |first=Jessica |date=2021-08-14 |title=Golden Leopard Winner 'Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash' Heads Impressive Slate Of Locarno Awards |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/locarno-film-festival-awards-2021-1235041709/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was released in limited theaters and on demand by [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] on November 19, 2021.

In 2022, Ferrara's [[Padre Pio (film)|''Padre Pio'']], starring [[Shia LaBeouf]] and [[Asia Argento]], premiered at the "[[Giornate degli Autori]]" section of the [[79th Venice Film Festival]] on September 2, 2022. The film was released in the [[United States]] by [[Gravitas Ventures]] on June 2, 2023. During the film's production, LeBeouf notably converted to [[Catholicism]].

== Personal life ==
Ferrara was formerly domestic partners with the actress Cristina Chiriac, with whom he remains on friendly terms and shares a daughter, Anna.<ref>{{cite newspaper|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/style/in-rome-they-call-him-maestro.html|magazine=[[The New York Times]]|title=In Rome, They Call Him ‘Maestro’|last=Vadukul|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2026|access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref> He was previously married to Nancy Ferrara.<ref>{{cite web|last=Maslin|first=Janet|title=Review/Film; A Movie Within a Movie, With a Demure Madonna|date=19 November 1993|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE5DF103AF93AA25752C1A965958260?|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> Ferrara has two adopted children: Endira and Lucy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abel Ferrara Biography (1952?-)|work=Film Reference|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/90/Abel-Ferrara.html|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hoban|first=Phoebe|title=Raising Cain|date=1 February 1993|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RBgAAAAAMBAJ&q=endira+ferrara&pg=PA40|access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref> He was also in a romantic relationship with actress Shanyn Leigh.<ref>{{cite web|last=Macnab|first=Geoffrey|title=Willem Dafoe: 'I have a charmed life'|date=3 March 2012|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/willem-dafoe-i-have-a-charmed-life-7466484.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305171219/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/willem-dafoe-i-have-a-charmed-life-7466484.html |archive-date=2012-03-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hoberman|first=J.|title=Home for the End of Days|date=19 March 2012|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|url=https://nymag.com/movies/features/abel-ferrara-2012-3/|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>

Ferrara lives in Rome, Italy in an apartment overlooking the [[Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Rome|Piazza Vittorio]], a location that was the subject of his 2017 documentary ''Piazza Vittorio''.<ref>{{cite newspaper|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/style/in-rome-they-call-him-maestro.html|magazine=[[The New York Times]]|title=In Rome, They Call Him ‘Maestro’|last=Vadukul|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2026|access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref> He moved to the city following the [[9/11 attacks]] because he said he wanted to get away from New York City and found it easier to secure financing for his movies in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lim|first=Dennis|title=Struggling With Faith and Gentrification|date=10 October 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/movies/12lim.html|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Religious and spiritual beliefs ===
Raised Catholic, Ferrara started describing himself as Buddhist in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shoard|first=Catherine|title=Abel Ferrara at Cannes: 'You gotta be careful what you say ... but I'm not'|date=23 May 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/23/abel-ferrara-interview|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> When asked if he had converted, Ferrara responded,

{{cquote|It’s not a conversion, you’re not a card-carrying Catholic, you’re brought up Italian, so you’re brought up with those images. All the great art is financed by the Church so they have a monopoly on the paintings, and they’re powerful images, the whole nine yards of it. But Jesus was a living man, and so were Buddha and Muhammad. These three guys changed the fucking world, with their passion and love of other human beings. All these guys had was their word, and they came from fucking nowhere. I’m not saying Nazareth is nowhere – I’m sure Jesus came from a very cool neighbourhood. |author=Abel Ferrara<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Carmen |title=The spiritual side of Abel Ferrara |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/22491/1/the-spiritual-side-of-abel-ferrara |website=Dazed |language=en |date=12 November 2014}}</ref>}}

Ferrara said in 2020 that Buddhism "is a practice for me, not a religion".<ref>{{cite web|last=Bukuras|first=Joe|title=From porn to 'Padre Pio': Meet the director who felt drawn to tell the saint's story|date=August 30, 2022|website=Catholic News Agency|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252162/padre-pio-movie-director-abel-ferrara-past-films-pornography|accessdate=September 23, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, he stated he considered [[Padre Pio]] his "spirituality model".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Elettra|last=Solero|title=Abel Ferrara: Padre Pio è il mio modello di spiritualità|language=it|magazine=Dipiù|date=November 18, 2022|number=46|pages=69–70}}</ref>

==Influences==
Influences on Ferrara's work include "the [[The Rolling Stones|Stones]] and [[Bob Dylan|Dylan]] ... [[DaVinci]], [[Stanley Kubrick]], [[Woody Allen]] and all of the great New York film makers".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artinterviews.com/abelFerrara.html|title=Abel Ferrara Interview|website=www.artinterviews.com|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> He has also credited [[Pier Paolo Pasolini]], [[Rainer Werner Fassbinder]], and his mentor [[Rosa von Praunheim]] as influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CAe3KScvB4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/3CAe3KScvB4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Cryptekeeper 041 Abel Ferrara/4H44 dernier jour sur terre|last=cryptekeeper|date=3 December 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-pursuit-of-freedom-abel-ferrara-discusses-welcome-to-new-york|title=The Pursuit of Freedom: Abel Ferrara Discusses "Welcome to New York"|last=Kasman|first=Daniel|date=7 June 2014|access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artinterviews.com/abelFerrara.html|title=Abel Ferrara Interview|last=Carli|first=Vittorio|access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Filmography==

=== Short films ===
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year 
! Title
! width="65" | Director 
! width="65" | Writer 
! width="65" | Actor 
! Notes
|-
| 1971
| ''Nicky's Film''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1972
| ''The Hold Up''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1973
| ''Could This Be Love''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2010
| ''42 One Dream Rush''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Segment "Dream Piece"
|-
| 2012
| ''No Saints''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2017
| ''Hans''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|}

===Feature films===
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year 
! Title
! width="65" | Director 
! width="65" | Writer 
! Notes
|-
| 1976
| ''[[9 Lives of a Wet Pussy]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Credited as 'Jimmy Boy L.'
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Driller Killer]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Ms .45]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Fear City]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1987
| ''[[China Girl (1987 film)|China Girl]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Cat Chaser]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1990
| ''[[King of New York]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Bad Lieutenant]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| ''[[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|Body Snatchers]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| ''[[Dangerous Game (1993 film)|Dangerous Game]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1995
| ''[[The Addiction]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Blackout (1997 film)|The Blackout]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1998
| ''[[New Rose Hotel (film)|New Rose Hotel]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[['R Xmas]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Mary (2005 film)|Mary]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}} 
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Go Go Tales]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[4:44 Last Day on Earth]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| ''[[Welcome to New York (2014 film)|Welcome to New York]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}} 
|
|-
| ''[[Pasolini (film)|Pasolini]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/more/global/ferrara-capricci-prep-pasolini-1200579433/|title=Ferrara, Dafoe Re-team for 'Pasolini'|access-date=June 15, 2014|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 16, 2013|first=John|last=Hopewell}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Tommaso (2019 film)|Tommaso]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Zeros and Ones]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Padre Pio (film)|Padre Pio]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|}

=== Television ===
{|class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year 
! Title
! Notes
|-
|1985
|''[[Miami Vice]]''
|Episodes: "The Home Invaders", "The Dutch Oven" 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1986
| ''[[Crime Story (American TV series)|Crime Story]]''
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
|''[[The Gladiator (1986 film)|The Gladiator]]''
| rowspan="2" |TV movie
|-
|1988
|''[[The Loner (film)|The Loner]]''
|-
|1997
|''[[Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground]]''
|TV movie; segment "Love on the A Train"
|}

===Web===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year 
! Title
|-
| 2012
| ''Pizza Connection''
|}

=== Music video ===
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year 
! Title
!Artist
|-
| 1996
| [[California (Mylène Farmer song)|California]]
|[[Mylène Farmer]]
|-
| 1999
| [[The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner|Don't Change Your Plans]]
|[[Ben Folds Five]]
|-
| 2004
| Rain
|Abenaa 
|}

===Documentary works===
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year 
! Title
! width="65" | Director 
! width="65" | Writer 
! width="65" | Himself
! Notes
! {{Ref heading}}
|-
| 1977
| ''Not Guilty: For Keith Richards''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Short
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Chelsea on the Rocks]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Napoli Napoli Napoli]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|
|-
| 2010
| ''Mulberry St.''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| ''[[Alive in France]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also composer
|
|-
| ''Piazza Vittorio''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|<ref>{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Gordon |date=23 August 2017 |title=Vanessa Redgrave, Alex Gibney, Griffin Dunne Documentaries Join New York Film Festival Slate (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/new-york-film-festival-2017-documentary-lineup-list-1202536831/}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
| ''Talking with the Vampires''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Short
|<ref>{{cite web |last=Murthi |first=Vikram |date=19 December 2016 |title=Isabelle Huppert, Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe Star in Abel Ferrara's New Film 'Siberia' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/isabelle-huppert-nicolas-cage-and-willem-dafoe-abel-ferrara-siberia-1201760734/ |access-date=7 January 2017 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| ''[[The Projectionist (2019 documentary film)|The Projectionist]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|<ref>{{cite web |last=Bramesco |first=Charles |date=23 April 2019 |title=The Projectionist review – Abel Ferrara's wistful, indulgent ode to cinema |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/apr/28/the-projectionist-review-abel-ferrara-ode-to-cinema |access-date=9 November 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Sportin' Life (2020 film)|Sportin' Life]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|<ref>{{cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=July 28, 2020 |title=Venice Film Festival 2020: Competition Light On Studios, Strong On Global Arthouse & Women Directors – Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/venice-film-festival-2020-lineup-full-list-1202996720/ |access-date=August 1, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Turn in the Wound]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|
|}

=== Acting roles ===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year 
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1976
| ''[[9 Lives of a Wet Pussy]]''
| Old Man
|
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Driller Killer]]''
| Reno
| rowspan="2" | Credited as "Jimmy Laine"
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Ms .45]]''
| 1st rapist
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|Body Snatchers]]''
|
|
|-
| 2006
| ''Exes''
| Cain
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Daddy Longlegs (2009 film)|Daddy Longlegs]]''
| Robber
|
|-
|2012
|''My Big-Assed Mother''
|[[Charles Bukowski]]
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Don Peyote]]''
| Taxi cab driver
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Sculpt (film 2016)|Sculpt]]''
|
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Black Butterfly (2017 film)|Black Butterfly]]''
| Pat
|
|-
| 2018
| ''Buon Lavoro''
|
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://buonlavoroilfilm.it/|title=Homepage |website=Buon Lavoro − Il film}}</ref>
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Marty Supreme]]''
| Ezra Mishkin
|
|}

==Recurring collaborators==
Ferrara has recast many of the same actors in his movies, most notably [[Christopher Walken]], [[Harvey Keitel]] and [[Willem Dafoe]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruilova|first=Aïda|title=Abel Ferrara|work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]|date=February 13, 2013|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/abel-ferrara#_}}</ref> Other actors he has recast include [[Annabella Sciorra]] and [[Matthew Modine]] as well as character actors such as [[Victor Argo]], [[Paul Calderón]] and [[Giancarlo Esposito]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dee|first=Jake|title=Dissecting Director Abel Ferrara!|date=7 January 2014|url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/dissecting-director-abel-ferrara}}</ref> [[David Caruso]] is another one of Ferrara's frequent film collaborators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indie Filmmaker Abel Ferrara Will Bring Short Eyes Back to Broadway|date=24 February 2010|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/147166/indie-filmmaker-abel-ferrara-will-bring-short-eyes-back-to-broadway/}}</ref> ''Ms .45'' (1981) star [[Zoë Lund]] collaborated with Ferrara again on ''Bad Lieutenant'' (1992), which she co-wrote.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vestby|first=Ethan|title=Abel Ferrara On Artistic Freedom, Collaboration, 'Ms. 45,' Pier Paolo Pasolini & More|date=9 December 2013|website=thefilmstage.com|url=http://thefilmstage.com/features/abel-ferrara-on-artistic-freedom-collaboration-ms-45-pier-paolo-pasolini-more/}}</ref> [[Gretchen Mol]] has worked with Ferrara twice.<ref>{{cite web| last=Hillis|first=Aaron|title=Gretchen Mol Indulges in "An American Affair"|date=26 February 2009|publisher=[[Ifc.com]]|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2009/02/gretchen-mol-indulges-in-an-am/2}}</ref> [[Forest Whitaker]] starred in Ferrara's movies ''Mary'' (2005) and ''Body Snatchers'' (1993).<ref>{{cite web|last=Nastasi|first=Alison|title=Abel Ferrara's 'Jekyll and Hyde' Coming Soon From Warner Bros.|date=19 November 2009|website=[[Moviefone]]|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2009/11/19/abel-ferraras-jekyll-and-hyde-coming-soon-from-warner-bros/|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210155608/http://news.moviefone.com/2009/11/19/abel-ferraras-jekyll-and-hyde-coming-soon-from-warner-bros/|archive-date=10 December 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

<div class="center">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;"
! rowspan=2 {{diagonal split header 2|Actor|Work}}
! {{small|1979}}!! {{small|1981}}!! {{small|1986}}!! {{small|1987}}!! {{small|1990}}!! {{small|1992}}!! {{small|1993}}!! {{small|1993}}!! {{small|1995}}!! {{small|1996}}!! {{small|1997}}!! {{small|1998}}!! {{small|2001}}!! {{small|2005}}!! {{small|2007}}!! {{small|2008}}!! {{small|2009}}!! {{small|2011}}!! {{small|2014}}!! {{small|2014}}!! {{small|2019}}!! {{small|2020}}!! {{small|2021}}!! {{small|2022}}
|-
! {{verth|''[[The Driller Killer]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Ms .45]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Crime Story (U.S. TV series)|Crime Story]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[China Girl (1987 film)|China Girl]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[King of New York]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Bad Lieutenant]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|Body Snatchers]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Dangerous Game (1993 film)|Dangerous Game]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[The Addiction]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[The Blackout (1997 film)|The Blackout]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[New Rose Hotel (film)|New Rose Hotel]]''}} !! {{verth|''[['R Xmas]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Mary (2005 film)|Mary]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Go Go Tales]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Chelsea on the Rocks]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Napoli Napoli Napoli]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[4:44 Last Day on Earth]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Welcome to New York (2014 film)|Welcome to New York]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Pasolini (film)|Pasolini]]''}}!! {{verth|''[[Tommaso (2019 film)|Tommaso]]''}}!! {{verth|''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]''}}!! {{verth|''[[Zeros and Ones]]''}} !! {{verth|''[[Padre Pio (film)|Padre Pio]]''}}
|-
! [[Asia Argento]]
|  ||  || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || || || || || || || || || {{X mark}}
|-
! [[Victor Argo]]
|  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Paul Calderón]]
|  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || || || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || {{X mark}} || || || || 
|-
! [[David Caruso]]
|  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  || || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! Cristina Chiriac
|  ||  || ||  ||  ||  || || ||  ||  ||  || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||
|-
! [[Willem Dafoe]]
|  ||  || ||  ||  ||  || || ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || ||
|-
! [[Giancarlo Esposito]]
|  ||  || ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || || || || || || || ||
|-
! Abel Ferrara
| {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || || || || || || || || 
|-
! Anna Ferrara
| || || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||
|-
! [[Ethan Hawke]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||
|-
! [[Paul Hipp]]
|  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} || || || || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || || || || ||
|-
! [[Dennis Hopper]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Harvey Keitel]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! Shanyn Leigh
| || || || || || || || || || || || || || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} || || || || ||
|-
! [[Zoë Lund]]
|  ||  {{X mark}}  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Matthew Modine]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Gretchen Mol]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[James Russo]]
| || || || {{X mark}} || || || || {{X mark}} || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Riccardo Scamarcio]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || ||  ||  || ||  || ||  ||  ||  {{X mark}} ||  ||  || || || {{X mark}} || || || ||
|-
! [[Annabella Sciorra]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Christopher Walken]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || {{X mark}} ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || || || || || ||
|-
! [[Forest Whitaker]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{X mark}} || || || || || || || || || ||
|}
</div>
Beginning with ''The Driller Killer'' in 1979 through ''The Projectionist'' in 2019, Ferrara most [[List of film director and cinematographer collaborations#F|frequently]] worked with [[Ken Kelsch]] as his cinematographer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/107567-filmmaking-is-like-combat-90-boredom-5-panic-and-5-terror-ken-kelsch-on-four-decades-as-a-cinematographer/|title="Filmmaking is Like Combat — 90% Boredom, 5% Panic and 5% Terror": Ken Kelsch on Four Decades as a Cinematographer|last=Louison|first=Evan|website=Filmmaker Magazine|date=May 22, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Nominated work
! Award
! Result
! {{Ref heading}}
|-
|1993
|''[[Bad Lieutenant]]''
|[[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director#1990s|Independent Spirit Award for Best Director]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1993
|''[[Body Snatchers (1993 film)|Body Snatchers]]''
|[[1993 Cannes Film Festival#In competition - Feature film|Palme d'Or]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1995
|''[[The Addiction]]''
|[[Golden Berlin Bear]] 
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1996
|''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]''
|[[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director#1990s|Independent Spirit Award for Best Director]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1998
|''[[The Blackout (1997 film)|The Blackout]]''
|Worst Director − Yoga Awards
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catacric.org/todos-los-premios-yoga/1998-novena-edicion-2/|title=1998 (novena edición) : Los Catacric y los YoGa|language=EN|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{commons-inline}}
* {{IMDb name|1206}}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/05/abel-ferrara-interview Guardian interview, 5 August 2010]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100815071648/http://www.filmannex.com/posts/blog_show_post/film-annex-launches-nickys-film-sound-design-remix-contest/14203 Nicky's Film sound design and remix contest]

{{Abel Ferrara}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrara, Abel}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Morris Park, Bronx]]
[[Category:People from Peekskill, New York]]
[[Category:Catholics from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American Buddhists]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Italy]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American pornographic film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York City]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:State University of New York at Purchase alumni]]
[[Category:Postmodernist filmmakers]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Abel Ferrara|access_date=2026-02-24}}