Jeff “The Dude” Dowd

Jeff “The Dude” Dowd is a writer, producer, producer’s representative, and a nationally recognized authority on marketing, distribution and exhibition of movies. Jeff helped Robert Redford start the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival.

Jeff is also a well-known activist with an illustrious history fighting against racism and ill-conceived wars, fighting for the environment and economic justice and being instrumental in political campaigns and grassroots organizations.

“Everybody knows somebody like the Dude — and so do the Coen brothers.  They based the character ”The Dude” played by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski on a movie producer and distributor named Jeff Dowd, a familiar figure at film festivals, who is tall, large, and shaggy and a boil with enthusiasm.  Dowd is much more successful than
Lebowski (he has played an important role in the Coens’ careers as indie filmmakers), but no less a creature of the moment. Both dudes depend on improvisation and inspiration…”    Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times