John Djahanshah Refoua was an American film editor who graduated from Oberlin College in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.[4]
John Refoua | |
|---|---|
 Refoua in 2013 | |
| Born | 1960–1965[b] |
| Died | May 14, 2023 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film editor |
| Years active | 1990–2023 |
| Spouse | Serena Refoua |
| Children | 1 |
He started his career as an editor in 1990, working on the television crime series Twin Peaks, where he served as an assistant editor for two episodes. After serving as the lead editor on an episode of the action series Raven, Refoua's work focused on television until his first feature film, Soft Toilet Seats in 1999.
When Refoua was hired as an editor for the series Dark Angel, he met producer and director James Cameron. The two collaborated on several projects, including Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) and the Avatar films. Refoua was nominated, alongside James Cameron and Stephen E. Rivkin, for Best Film Editing for Avatar at the 2009 Academy Awards.[5] Refoua also worked on the television series New York Undercover, Touched by an Angel and Law & Order.[4] Refoua died from complications related to bile duct cancer while working on Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), which is dedicated to his memory.[2][6][1][7]
Refoua was married to Serena Bell Refoua for 32 years.[7] They share one son, Aaron James Refoua.[3]
Awards
editRefoua won two awards and was nominated for an additional eight.
Wins:
- 2010 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards for Best Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin
- 2009 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards for Best Film Editing on Avatar, shared with James Cameron and Stephen E. Rivkin
Nominations:
- 2009 Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Film Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 Academy Awards for Best Achievement in Film Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 BAFTA Awards for Best Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 American Cinema Editors—Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) for Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 Hollywood Post Alliance—Outstanding Editing on a Feature Film on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 Online Film & Television Association—Best Film Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
- 2010 Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing on Avatar, shared with Stephen E. Rivkin and James Cameron
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Soft Toilet Seats | Tina Valinsky | Co-edited with Robbie Adler, Lynel Moore, and Nancy Rosenblum |
| 2003 | Ghosts of the Abyss | James Cameron | Co-edited with David C. Cook, Ed W. Marsh, and Sven Pape |
| 2007 | Reno 911!: Miami | Robert Ben Garant | |
| Balls of Fury | |||
| 2009 | Avatar | James Cameron | Co-edited with Stephen E. Rivkin, and James Cameron |
| 2013 | 21 & Over | Jon Lucas, and Scott Moore | |
| Olympus Has Fallen | Antoine Fuqua | ||
| 2014 | The Equalizer | ||
| 2015 | Southpaw | ||
| 2016 | The Magnificent Seven | ||
| 2017 | Transformers: The Last Knight | Michael Bay | Co-edited with Mark Sanger, Debra Neil-Fisher, Roger Barton, Adam Gerstel, and Calvin Wimmer |
| Geostorm | Dean Devlin | Co-edited with Ron Rosen, and Chris Lebenzon | |
| 2022 | Avatar: The Way of Water | James Cameron | Co-edited with Stephen E. Rivkin, David Brenner, and James Cameron |
| 2025 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | Posthumous release; Co-edited with Stephen E. Rivkin, Nicholas de Toth, Jason Gaudio, James Cameron and David Brenner |
Notes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "John Refoua, Oscar-Nominated 'Avatar' Film Editor, Dies at 58". Yahoo Entertainment. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
- 1 2 Franklin, McKinley (May 16, 2023). "John Refoua, 'Avatar' Series Film Editor, Dies at 58". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- 1 2 "In Memoriam – John Refoua, ACE". Edit Fest Global. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
- 1 2 "Losses" (PDF). Oberlin Alumni Magazine. Fall 2023. p. 55.
- ↑ "The 82nd Academy Awards (2010) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. AMPAS. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ↑ Tinoco, Armando (May 16, 2023). "John Refoua Dies: 'Avatar' Film Editor Was 62". Please note: This publication lists an age of death (62) which is not corroborated by other sources cited on this page. Deadline. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- 1 2 Piña, Christy; Rahman, Abid (2023-05-17). "John Refoua, Editor on 'Avatar' Films, Dies at 58". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
External links
edit- John Refoua at IMDb
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