Writer/director Tamara Jenkins began her film career writing and directing several award-winning short films including FAMILY REMAINS which received a Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Short Filmmaking at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival. Jenkins’ first feature film outing was 1998’s SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS, which premiered as part of the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival that year. Starring Alan Arkin, Natasha Lyonne and Marisa Tomei, the film was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards (Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay) and has since become a cult hit.

In addition to her feature film work, Jenkins’ writing has been published in Zoetrope: All-Story, Tin House Magazine, and most recently her essay, "Holy Innocents," appeared in the book Lisa Yuskavage: Small Paintings 1993-2004 published by Abrams. She has also directed theater at The New Group, worked with teens creating a sex education film for the non-profit organization Scenarios and directed a series of public service announcements for Amnesty International.
THE SAVAGES, Jenkins second directorial feature film which she also wrote, had its world premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney and Philip Bosco and was released by Fox Searchlight in November 2007.