Jim Sikora

Jim Sikora is a Chicago based American film director, writer, and producer and is considered a pioneer in DV filmmaking. Sikora is best known for his independent micro-budgeted feature films "Walls in the City", starring Paula Killen, Bill Cusack, Tony Fitzpatrick, and David Yow of the rock band The Jesus Lizard, with a soundtrack by The Denison/Kimball Trio;[1] "Bullet on a Wire" starring Jeff Strong, Paula Killen, Lara Phillips, David Yow, and Cinema of Transgression legend Richard Kern; "Rock & Roll Punk" which features members of Hüsker Dü, The Descendents, Big Black, Tortoise, and Slint; "My Charbroiled Burger with Brewer" starring Mike Watt of Minutemen and The Stooges and Jack Brewer of Saccharine Trust.

Portrait of Jim Sikora by Richard Kern

Sikora's films and videos have aired everywhere from MTV's "120 Minutes" to PBS's "Image Union". His film “Bullet on a Wire” was shown in 18 film festivals in the United States, and worldwide, including the Rotterdam International Film Festival, The Munich International Film Festival, and in London at the ICA as part of the American Underground Cinema retrospective.[2] The film also made Kevin Thomas's list as one of the best movies of 1998 in the LA Times.

Sikora has had successful theatrical runs of his pictures in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Sikora (born James Vincent Lato III) was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and in the greater Chicagoland area. He attended Columbia College Chicago on the G.I. Bill after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He has made music videos and promos for labels such as SST Records, Touch & Go, Amphetamine Reptile, Arista, and Rykodisk. The bands he's created videos and promos for are as varied and diverse as Urge Overkill, The Frogs, The Leaving Trains, Mike Watt, The Jesus Lizard, Pegboy, Mutts,[3] Enuff Z' Nuff, The Screaming Trees, Greg Ginn of Black Flag, and The Roots.

Jim has produced and directed the feature film "The Earl'',[4] written by internationally acclaimed playwright Brett Neveu, and "The Critics",[5] written by novelist and playwright Adam Langer. His short films include "Bring Me The Head of Geraldo Rivera",[6] named by Film Threat Magazine as one of the best underground films of the decade; "Stagefright Chameleon",[7] and "X-Mass '73".[8]

Sikora is currently developing the late-60's Chicago autobiographical period drama "Tim", the noir-horror thriller "Things I've Done", and the Mid-Western noir road adventure "I'll Die Tomorrow" starring Michael Shannon. Also in development is "Obits", a black comedy written by Terry Southern and Harry Nilsson.

Recently, Sikora has acted in a supporting role in writer-director Mickey Keating's upcoming thriller "Invader".