J.B. Kaufman is an author and film historian who has published and lectured extensively on Disney animation, American silent film history, and related topics. His books include "Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic", "The Fairest One of All", and "South of the Border with Disney"; he is also coauthor, with Russell Merritt, of "Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series" and the award-winning "Walt in Wonderland: The Silent Films of Walt Disney". Kaufman has also presented programs at festivals including the TCM Classic Film Festival; the San Francisco Silent Film Festival; and Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, the distinguished annual silent-film festival in Pordenone, Italy, where he was a recipient of the Jean Mitry Award in 2020.
Photo: Rob McHenry