Jay Cohen is a Partner and Head of Film Finance and Distribution at The Gersh Agency, one of Hollywood’s oldest and largest talent agencies with seventy-five-agents and offices in Los Angeles and New York. At Gersh, he oversees a department which  reps' multiple equity funds, sells finished films, and consults on independent financing for a wide spectrum of industries across all media. During his time at the Gersh Agency, Jay has successfully packaged and sold hundreds of films.

Prior to his career in Hollywood, Mr. Cohen spent years working on Wall Street where he launched the Wire house Broker Dealer Network, helping to generate close to $1 billion in new revenue. Later, he moved to Los Angeles to begin the Institutional Investment Program for Fiduciary Trust International of California, a subsidiary of FTI NY.

Mr. Cohen’s first film, which he produced and self-financed, was the critically acclaimed hit Swimming with Sharks, A film which remains as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1995. Swimming with Sharks has been a stage play in eight countries and most recently opened in the West End of London in October 2007. Currently he is developing Swimming with Sharks as a TV series.

Jay Cohen’s entertainment career includes a three-year partnership with Dustin Hoffman and Village Roadshow Pictures Australia. Mr. Cohen created the company Cosmic Entertainment, a partnership with Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson. Mr. Cohen raised the capital for this venture and  was responsible for the full-time staff, day  to day  operations, as well as  all negotiations regarding film, television and production facilities.

Through his decades of experience in the entertainment  industry, Jay Cohen has  developed excellent relationships  with major studios, independent domestic  distributors, talent  agencies, management companies, international distributors, equity  providers, international film funds, domestic and international banks, public relations firms, attorneys, actors, writers and directors.