Top 25 UP-and-COMING Directors to Look out for
by HLMPartDeux | created - 26 Jan 2012 | updated - 26 Jul 2012 | Public*First Film must have been within last 5 years
*Listed by Date of First Film(aka Newness)
Honorable Mentions of UP-and-COMING directors that made 1 film more than 5 years ago and therefore had to be excluded
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1) Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) - Excluded due to "The Pallbearer (1996)"
2) Greg Mottola (Adventureland, Superbad) - Excluded due to "The Daytrippers (1996)"
3) James Gunn (Slither, Super) - Excluded due to "Tromeo & Juliet (1996)"
4) Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman) - Excluded due to "Gossip (2000)"
5) Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) - Excluded due to "Brother Tied (1998)"
6) Mike Cahill (Another Earth) - Excluded due to "Boxers & Ballerinas (2004)"
7) Lee Daniels (Precious) - Excluded due to "Shadowboxer (2005)"
8) Bobcat Goldthwait (Worlds Greatest Dad) - Excluded due to "Shakes The Clown (1991)"
9) David Yates (Harry Potter) - Excluded due to "The Tichborne Claimant (1998)"
10) Rian Johnson (Brick, Brothers Bloom) - Excluded due to "Brick (2005)"
11) Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote) - Excluded due to "Capote (2005)"
12) Andrew Domink (Assassination of Jesse James) - Excluded due to "Chopper (2000)"
13) Johnathan Dayton/Valarie faris (Little Miss Sunshine) - Excluded due to Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
14) Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, 40 year old virgin) - Excluded due to "40 Year old Virgin (2005)"
1. Benh Zeitlin
Director | Beasts of the Southern Wild
Born in New York City and raised in Sunnyside, Queens and then Westchester County, Benh Zeitlin began his career as a film-maker at the tender age of 6 years when he and a friend made a Batman movie. He continued making films as a child before attending Wesleyan University, where he majored in film...
First Film Directed: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)(USA) Last Film Directed: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)(USA) Upcoming Film: N/A
2. John Michael McDonagh
Writer | The Guard
John Michael McDonagh was born in 1967 in London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014) and The Forgiven (2021). He has been married to Elizabeth Eves since 2003.
First Film Directed: The Guard (2011)(UK) Last Film Directed: The Guard (2011)(UK) Upcoming Film: Calvary (2013)(UK)
3. Joe Cornish
Writer | Attack the Block
Joe Cornish was born on December 20, 1968 in London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for Attack the Block (2011), Ant-Man (2015) and The Kid Who Would Be King (2019).
First Film Directed: Attack the Block (2011)(UK) Last Film Directed: Attack the Block (2011)(UK) Upcoming Film: N/A (Possibly Attack the Block Sequel or Die Hard 5)
4. Dee Rees
Director | Mudbound
Writer/Director Dee Rees is an alumna of New York University's graduate film program and a Sundance Screenwriting & Directing Lab Fellow.
In 2018, Dee became the first Black woman nominated for an Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for her highly-acclaimed film Mudbound (2017). The film, ...
First Film Directed: Pariah (2011)(USA) Last Film Directed: Pariah (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Bolo (2013)(USA)
5. J.C. Chandor
Producer | A Most Violent Year
J.C. Chandor is known for A Most Violent Year (2014), Margin Call (2011) and All Is Lost (2013). He has been married to Mary Cameron Goodyear since 2004. They have two children.
First Film Directed: Margin Call (2011)(USA) Last Film Directed: Margin Call (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: All Is Lost (2013)(USA)
6. James Bobin
Writer | Muppets Most Wanted
James Bobin was born in 1972 in Hampshire, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for Muppets Most Wanted (2014), The Muppets (2011) and Flight of the Conchords (2007). He is married to Fran Beauman. They have three children.
First Film Directed: The Muppets (2011)(USA) Last Film Directed: The Muppets (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: The Muppets 2 (2013)(USA)
7. David Michôd
Writer | The King
David Michôd is known for The King (2019), Animal Kingdom (2010) and The Rover (2014). He is married to Mirrah Foulkes.
First Film Directed: Animal Kingdom (2010)(Australia) Last Film Directed: Animal Kingdom (2010)(Australia) Upcoming Film: Sydney Unplugged (segment)(2013)(Australia); The Rover (2013)(Australia)
8. Ruben Fleischer
Director | Zombieland
Ruben Fleischer was born on October 31, 1974 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Zombieland (2009), Gangster Squad (2013) and Venom (2018). He has been married to Holly Shakoor Fleischer since November 10, 2012.
First Film Directed: Zombieland (2009)(USA) Last Film Directed: 30 Minutes of Less (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Gangster Squad (2012)(USA)
9. Duncan Jones
Director | Moon
Duncan Jones was born on May 30, 1971 in Bromley, Kent, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Moon (2009), Source Code (2011) and Mute (2018). He has been married to Rodene Ronquillo since November 6, 2012. They have two children.
First Film Directed: Moon (2009)(USA) Last Film Directed: Source Code (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Mute(Sequel to "Moon") (2011)(USA)
10. Cary Joji Fukunaga
Producer | Beasts of No Nation
Cary Joji Fukunaga is a Japanese-American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and producer from Oakland, California who is known for directing the James Bond film No Time to Die, Kofi, Beasts of No Nation, Jane Eyre and Sin Nombre. He co-wrote the 2017 film adaptation of the Stephen King ...
First Film Directed: Sin Nombre (2009)(USA/Mexico) Last Film Directed: Jane Eyre (2011)(USA/UK) Upcoming Film: No Blood, No Guts, No Glory (2013)(USA)
11. Marc Webb
Director | (500) Days of Summer
Marc Webb is an American film and music video director. He directed over 100 music videos before he made his film directorial debut with 500 Days of Summer, a romantic comedy. He later directed The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. He also directed ...
First Film Directed: 500 Days of Summer (2009)(USA) Last Film Directed: 500 Days of Summer (2009)(USA) Upcoming Film: The Amazing Spiderman (2012)(USA)
12. Phil Lord
Writer | The Lego Movie
Philip A. Lord is an American filmmaker, producer and writer who collaborates with Christopher Miller. They both worked on Clone High, a cult classic animated sci-fi teen comedy show, The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Into the Spider-Verse is ...
First Film Directed: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)(USA)
Last Film Directed: 21 Jump Street (2012)(USA)
Upcoming Film: Lego: The Piece of Resistance (2014)(USA)
*Phil Lord and Chris Miller are kind of a package deal so I think they count as one.
13. Nicholas Stoller
Writer | The Muppets
Nicholas Stoller is an English-American screenwriter and director. He is known best for directing the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and writing/directing its 2010 spin-off/sequel, Get Him to the Greek. He also wrote The Muppets and directed the Seth Rogen comedy, Neighbors. He is a ...
First Film Directed: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)(USA) Last Film Directed: Get Him to the Greek (2010)(USA) Upcoming Film: The Five-Year Engagement (2012)(USA)
14. Rupert Wyatt
Director | The Escapist
Writer, Director and Producer Rupert Wyatt was born and raised in the South of England.
He is the founding member of the film collective Picture Farm that along with its prolific Commercial output has produced numerous Documentaries and Feature Films including the multi-award winning DARK DAYS (2001...
First Film Directed: The Escapist (2008)(USA) Last Film Directed: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)(USA)
15. Steve McQueen
Director | 12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen was born on October 9, 1969 in London, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Shame (2011) and Hunger (2008). He is married to Bianca Stigter. They have two children.
First Film Directed: Hunger (2008)(UK) Last Film Directed: Shame (2011)(UK) Upcoming Film: 12 Years A Slave (2013)(UK/USA)
16. Martin McDonagh
Writer | In Bruges
Martin McDonagh was born on March 26, 1970 in Camberwell, London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for In Bruges (2008), Seven Psychopaths (2012) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).
First Film Directed: In Bruges (2008)(UK) Last Film Directed: In Bruges (2008)(UK) Upcoming Film: Seven Psychopaths (2012) (UK)
17. Jonathan Levine
Director | 50/50
Jonathan Levine was born on June 18, 1976. He is a producer and director, known for 50/50 (2011), The Wackness (2008) and Warm Bodies (2013).
First Film Directed: All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006-completed, 2008-released)(USA) Last Film Directed: 50/50 (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Warm Bodies (2013)(USA)
18. Tate Taylor
Producer | Get on Up
Tate Taylor was born on June 3, 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Get on Up (2014), The Help (2011) and The Girl on the Train (2016).
First Film Directed: Pretty Ugly People (2008)(USA) Last Film Directed: The Help (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Peace Like a River (2013)(USA)
19. Rodrigo Cortés
Director | Buried
Rodrigo Cortés was born in 1973 in Pazos Hermos, Ourense, Galicia, Spain. He is a director and editor, known for Buried (2010), Love Gets a Room (2021) and Red Lights (2012).
First Film Directed: The Contestant (2007)(Spain) Last Film Directed: Buried (2010)(Spain) Upcoming Film: Red Lights (2012)(USA/Spain)
20. Jeff Nichols
Writer | Take Shelter
Jeff Nichols was born on December 7, 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012) and Midnight Special (2016).
First Film Directed: Shotgun Stories (2007)(USA) Last Film Directed: Take Shelter (2011)(USA) Upcoming Film: Mud (2012)(USA)
21. J.A. Bayona
Director | La sociedad de la nieve
Juan Antonio García Bayona is a Spanish film director. He directed the 2007 horror film The Orphanage, the 2012 drama film The Impossible, and the 2016 fantasy drama film A Monster Calls. Bayona's latest film is the 2018 science fiction adventure film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the fifth ...
First Film Directed: The Orphanage (2007)(USA) Last Film Directed: The Orphanage (2007)(USA) Upcoming Film: The Impossible (2012)(USA)
22. Ben Affleck
Producer | Argo
Benjamin Géza "Ben" Affleck-Boldt was born on August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to mother Chris Anne (Boldt), a school teacher, and father Timothy Byers "Tim" Affleck, a social worker. Ben has a younger brother, actor Casey Affleck, who was born in 1975...
First Film Directed: Gone Baby Gone (2007)(USA) Last Film Directed: Town (2010)(USA) Upcoming Film: Argo (2012)(USA)
23. Tony Gilroy
Writer | Michael Clayton
Tony Gilroy was born in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA; and raised in upstate New York. His father, Frank D. Gilroy, was a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, director, and screenwriter. Tony has penned many films, including The Devil's Advocate (1997) and The Cutting Edge (1992).
First Film Directed: Michael Clayton (2007)(USA) Last Film Directed: Duplicity (2009)(USA) Upcoming Film: The Bourne Legacy (2012)(USA)
24. Charles Ferguson
Producer | Inside Job
Charles Ferguson was born on March 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Inside Job (2010), No End in Sight (2007) and Watergate (2018).
First Film Directed: No End in Sight (2007)(USA) Last Film Directed: Inside Job (2010)(USA) Upcoming Film: Untitled HBO Wikileaks Movie (2013)(USA)
25. Sarah Polley
Actress | My Life Without Me
Sarah Polley is an actress and director renowned in her native Canada for her political activism. Blessed with an extremely expressive face that enables directors to minimize dialog due to her uncanny ability to suggest a character's thoughts, Polley has become a favorite of critics for her ...
First Film Directed: Away From Her (2006)(Canada) Last Film Directed: Away From Her (2006)(Canada) Upcoming Film: Take This Waltz (2012)(Canada)
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