Multi-Hyphenate Jeff Ryan Will Not Go Away (Even If You Want Him To)
Four indie films, one fake film festival, and a relentless pursuit of becoming Hollywood’s next offbeat leading man. Resistance is futile.
NEW YORK — There are some actors who wait patiently for Hollywood to discover them. And then there’s Jeff Ryan — an indie multi-hyphenate who refuses to sit still, be quiet, or fade politely into obscurity.
With four self-produced feature films under his belt — all with him in the lead — and a growing stack of viral stunts to his name (including launching the recent Rejecta Film Festival… in a van parked outside Tribeca), Ryan is doing what he does best: forcing the world to notice.
The Relentless One
Over the last five years, Ryan has written, directed, and starred in four features — three of which are currently streaming. His latest, MOOCH, is a darkly funny, lo-fi noir about a New Jersey caddy turned private investigator, releasing this fall.
In June, frustrated by a lack of traditional festival traction, Ryan created his own fake film festival — Rejecta — screening MOOCH out of a white 15-passenger van in front of Tribeca’s Village East Cinema. The resulting video — part stunt, part sincere call to arms for indie filmmakers — quickly made the rounds online.
Watch: Rejecta Film Festival Hits the Streets
The Actor You Can’t Ignore
Known for his self-deprecating humor, deadpan timing, and off-kilter charm, Ryan is often described as “if Benny Safdie, Robert Pattinson, and Andrew Garfield’s awkward cousin tried really hard.”
He’s played everything from earnest romantic leads to jittery noir weirdos, and frequently draws comparisons to “the kind of actor you’d like to see be cast in White Lotus (his words, not ours).”
And yes — he’s seeking theatrical and commercial representation.
The Work So Far
- Four feature films as writer/director/lead
- Streaming titles: Mean Spirited (Shudder), YouthMin: A Mockumentary (Peacock), Mass Hysteria
- Notable acting credits: The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (one line)
- Festival rejections: Sundance, SXSW, TIFF
- Creator of Rejecta Film Festival
- Recent press: We don't share press older than 10 years
For representation inquiries, press, or collaborations:
Contact: jeff@firstnamesfilms.com