Joseph Banks (born December 30, 2006) is a filmmaker and writer from Pennsylvania and a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson. He was awarded a $106,000 scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City based on his debut short film, Grown (2025), a quick, awkward comedy about a kid trying (and failing) to buy beer. His work mixes dry humor, tight storytelling, and an eye for the weird honesty in everyday life. With a passion for directing and a growing body of original work, Banks represents a new generation of filmmakers bringing fresh voices to the screen.