My Top 1,000 Directors: Honourable Mentions

1. Lewis Arnold

Director | Time

Lewis is currently directing all 7 parts of THE LONG SHADOW for New Pictures/ITV having recently finished directing SHERWOOD for House Productions/BB1. Prior to this, he directed Jimmy McGovern's TIME for BBC Studios starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. The 3-parter was nominated for several ...

TELEVISION Time (three episodes) Des (three episodes) Humans (two episodes)

2. Claude Autant-Lara

Director | Le diable au corps

Claude Autant-Lara was born on August 5, 1901 in Luzarches, Val-d'Oise, France. He was a director and writer, known for Devil in the Flesh (1947), The Crossing of Paris (1956) and The Red and the Black (1954). He was married to Ghislaine Autant-Lara. He died on February 5, 2000 in Antibes, ...

FEATURES Devil in the Flesh Love is My Profession Douce

3. Sean Baker

Writer | Red Rocket

Sean Baker is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He is an award-winning writer/director/producer known for Take Out (2004), Prince of Broadway (2008), Starlet (2012), Tangerine (2015), and The Florida Project (2017). Sean's latest feature, Red Rocket, premiered at Cannes on July 14, 2021...

FEATURES Tangerine The Florida Project SHORTS Snowbird

4. Saul Bass

Director | Why Man Creates

Saul Bass was born in New York City in 1920 and is a widely acclaimed graphic designer with a career spanning over 40 years. Among his most famous works are the title sequences for such classic films as The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960). Bass used his ...

FEATURES Phase IV SHORTS The Solar Film Quest DOCUMENTARIES Why Man Creates Bass on Titles

5. 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 ...

FEATURES The Orphanage A Monster Calls Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom The Impossible

6. Jacques Becker

Writer | Le trou

His interest in films was stimulated by a meeting with King Vidor, who offered him employment in the US as actor and assistant director. However, he remained in France and became assistant to Jean Renoir, a friend of the family, during that director's peak period (1932-39). In 1934 he ventured ...

FEATURES Le Trou Casque d'Or Touchez pas au Grisbi

7. Jean Becker

Director | La tête en friche

Jean Becker was born on May 10, 1933 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010), Dialogue avec mon jardinier (2007) and The Children of the Marshland (1999).

FEATURES Élisa One Deadly Summer My Afternoons with Margueritte

8. Rachid Bouchareb

Director | Indigènes

Rachid Bouchareb was born on September 1, 1959 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for Days of Glory (2006), Little Senegal (2000) and Cheb (1991).

FEATURES London River Outside the Law Days of Glory

9. Jean-Claude Brisseau

Director | Choses secrètes

Jean-Claude Brisseau was born on July 17, 1944 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for Secret Things (2002), Sound and Fury (1988) and Céline (1992). He died on May 11, 2019 in Paris, France.

FEATURES Choses Secrètes Noche Blanche The Exterminating Angels

10. Chris Buck

Director | Frozen

Chris Buck is an animation film director from Wichita, Kansas. He directed the Disney animated films Tarzan, Frozen, Frozen Fever and Frozen II and Sony Pictures Animation's Surf's Up. He was a supervising animator for Percy, Grandmother Willow and Wiggins for Pocahontas. He won Best Animated ...

FEATURES Tarzan Frozen Frozen II SHORTS Frozen Fever

11. Kristina Buozyte

Director | Vesper

Kristina Buozyte was born on October 9, 1982 in Klaipeda, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Lithuania]. She is a director and writer, known for Vesper (2022), Vanishing Waves (2012) and Kolekcioniere (2008).

FEATURES Vanishing Waves The ABCs of Death 2* SHORTS Change the Record

* segment "K is for Knell"

12. William Castle

Director | Homicidal

William Castle was born on April 24, 1914 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Homicidal (1961), House on Haunted Hill (1959) and The Lady from Shanghai (1947). He was married to Ellen. He died on May 31, 1977 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

FEATURES The Tingler Mr. Sardonicus Homicidal Macabre Hollywood Story House on Haunted Hill Strait-Jacket The Fat Man Battle of Rogue River The Americano 13 Ghosts The Gun That Won the West Masterson of Kansas Serpent of the Nile Project X Zotz! The Law vs. Billy the Kid The Night Walker Conquest of Cochise Let's Kill Uncle The Spirit is Willing The Old Dark House Cave of Outlaws Fort Ti SHORTS How to Plan a Movie Murder DOCUMENTARIES Joan Crawford Wardrobe/Makeup Test for 'Strait-Jacket' Coney Island

13. Fred Cavayé

Writer | The Next Three Days

Fred Cavayé is known for The Next Three Days (2010), Anything for Her (2008) and Point Blank (2010).

FEATURES Anything for Her Mea Culpa Point Blank

14. Simon Cellan Jones

Director | The Family Plan

Simon Cellan Jones is known for The Family Plan (2023), Arthur the King (2024) and Our Friends in the North (1996).

TELEVISION Our Friends in the North (five episodes) Years and Years (four episodes) Boardwalk Empire (one episode) Bloodline (one episode)

15. Les Claypool

Actor | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

Les Claypool was born on September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Pig Hunt (2008) and Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008). He has been married to Cheney since 1995. They have two children.

MUSIC VIDEOS Wynona's Big Brown Beaver Shake Hands with Beef Southbound Pachyderm

16. Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

Director | The Mustang

Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre was born on July 26, 1983 in Paris, France. She is an actress and director, known for The Mustang (2019), Rabbit (2014) and Atlantic Avenue (2013).

FEATURES The Mustang SHORTS Rabbit TELEVISION Mrs. America (two episodes)

17. Émile Cohl

Director | L'agent de poche

Pioneering animator Emile Cohl was born Emile Eugène Jean Louis Courtet in Paris, France, in 1857. He began his career as a caricaturist, cartoonist and writer in his 20s, and in 1908 he was hired by the Gaumont film company as a writer. He soon also became a director, turning out comedies and ...

SHORTS Fantasmagorie Mobilier Fidèle A Set of Teeth

18. Scott Cooper

Director | Crazy Heart

Scott Cooper was born on April 20, 1970 in Abingdon, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Crazy Heart (2009), Hostiles (2017) and Out of the Furnace (2013).

FEATURES Crazy Heart Black Mass Out of the Furnace

19. 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).

FEATURES Attack the Block The Kid Who Would be King TELEVISION The Adam and Joe Show (twenty-two episodes)

20. Alexandre Courtès

Director | U2: Vertigo

Alexandre Courtès is known for U2: Vertigo (2004), Asylum Blackout (2011) and A Very Secret Service (2015).

MUSIC VIDEOS Seven Nation Army Check My Brain COMMERCIALS Unite All Originals

21. John Crowley

Director | Brooklyn

John Crowley was born on August 19, 1969 in Cork, Ireland. He is a director and producer, known for Brooklyn (2015), Boy A (2007) and Intermission (2003). He is married to Fiona Weir. They have one child.

FEATURES Boy A Brooklyn SHORTS Come and Go

22. Massimo Dallamano

Cinematographer | Per un pugno di dollari

Massimo Dallamano was born on April 17, 1917 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. He was a cinematographer and writer, known for A Fistful of Dollars (1964), Tierra mágica (1959) and What Have You Done to Solange? (1972). He died on November 14, 1976 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

FEATURES What Have You Done to Solange? Bandidos The Secret of Dorian Gray The Night Child

23. Lukas Dhont

Director | Close

Belgian film director and screenwriter. He was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2019.

Dhont was born in Ghent, Belgium. His mother, Hilbe is a fashion teacher at an art school. He has a younger brother Michiel who is a producer. As a teenager, Dhont worked as a costume design assistant ...

FEATURES Girl Close SHORTS Headlong

24. Nick Donkin

Director | Hubcap

Nick Donkin is known for Hubcap (2001), Bill and Tony (2016) and Custard: Casanova (1993).

SHORTS The Junky's Christmas MUSIC VIDEOS I Stay Away Last Thing You Can Depend On

25. John Dower

Director | Thrilla in Manila

John Dower is known for Thrilla in Manila (2008), Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (2006) and My Scientology Movie (2015).

DOCUMENTARIES The Hijacker Who Vanished: The Mystery of D.B. Cooper My Scientology Movie Banged Up Abroad - Kuwait

26. Benedikt Erlingsson

Writer | Kona fer í stríð

Benedikt Erlingsson was born on May 31, 1969 in Reykjavik, Iceland. He is an actor and writer, known for Kona fer í stríð (2018), Of Horses and Men (2013) and The Show of Shows (2015).

FEATURES Woman at War Of Horses and Men DOCUMENTARIES The Golden Age of Circus: The Show of Shows

27. Xiaogang Feng

Actor | Lao pao er

Xiaogang Feng was born on March 18, 1958 in Beijing, China. He is a writer and producer, known for Mr. Six (2015), A World Without Thieves (2004) and Assembly (2007).

FEATURES Assembly I Am Not Madame Bovary A World Without Thieves Aftershock Back to 1942

28. Xiaoning Feng

Director | Hong he gu

Xiaoning Feng was born in November 1954 in Jiangsu Province, China. He is a director and writer, known for Red River Valley (1997), Lover's Grief Over the Yellow River (1999) and The Ozone Layer Vanishes (1990).

FEATURES Purple Sunset Gada Meilin Lovers' Grief Over the Yellow River

29. Todd Field

Director | Tár

William Todd Field was born in Pomona, California, and began acting after graduating from high school in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised. A budding jazz musician as well, he skipped college in favor of a move east to New York to study acting. Once there, he began performing with the Ark ...

FEATURES In the Bedroom Tár Little Children TELEVISION Carnivàle (one episode)

30. 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.

FEATURES Zombieland Gangster Squad Zombieland: Double Tap 30 Minutes or Less MUSIC VIDEOS We Know Something You Don't Know Dance Commander Fix Up, Look Sharp Stand Up Tall COMMERCIALS Fired

31. Howard J. Ford

Director | Never Let Go

Howard J. Ford was born on January 9, 1973 in Hazlemere, Surrey, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for Never Let Go (2015), The Dead (2010) and The Dead 2: India (2013).

FEATURES The Dead Never Let Go The Dead 2

32. Norman Foster

Director | Letter to Loretta

Norman Foster was born on December 13, 1903 in Richmond, Indiana, USA. He was a director and actor, known for The Loretta Young Show (1953), I Cover Chinatown (1936) and Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1938). He was married to Sally Blane and Claudette Colbert. He died on July 7, 1976 in Santa Monica, ...

FEATURES Woman on the Run Journey into Fear Rachel and the Stranger Kiss the Blood off My Hands TELEVISION Batman (four episodes)

33. Richard Franklin

Director | Hotel Sorrento

Writer, director and producer Richard Franklin was born on July 15, 1948 in Melbourne, Australia. Infatuated with cinema at an early age, Franklin first began making 8mm films at age 10. Franklin saw Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" two years later and was hooked on movies for life. Richard enrolled at ...

FEATURES Roadgames Patrick Psycho II

34. Warren Fu

Visual_effects | Star Trek

Warren Fu is known for Star Trek (2009), Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).

MUSIC VIDEOS Simmer Soothe My Soul Levitating Kiss Me More Simmer Interlude It's Not Living (If It's Not with You) I Feel It Coming Get Lucky

35. Rodrigo García

Writer | Nine Lives

Rodrigo García was born on August 24, 1959 in Bogotá, Colombia. He is a producer and writer, known for Nine Lives (2005), Mother and Child (2009) and In Treatment (2008).

FEATURES Albert Nobbs Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her SHORTS Celia TELEVISION Carnivàle (five episodes) Big Love (one episode)

36. Aleksey German

Writer | Khrustalyov, mashinu!

Aleksey German was born on July 20, 1938 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor and writer, known for Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998), Hard to Be a God (2013) and Moy drug Ivan Lapshin (1985). He was married to Svetlana Karmalita. He died on February 21, 2013 in ...

FEATURES Hard to be a God Khrustalyov, My Car! My Friend Ivan Lapshin

37. 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).

FEATURES Michael Clayton The Bourne Legacy Duplicity

38. Drew Goddard

Producer | The Martian

Drew Goddard was raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He attended Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico and graduated in 1993. He then attended the University of Colorado, and worked as a production assistant in L.A. after graduation. A spec script Drew wrote based on Six Feet Under (2001) ...

FEATURES Bad Times at the El Royale The Cabin in the Woods TELEVISION The Good Place (two episodes)

39. Bob Godfrey

Director | Great (Isambard Kingdom Brunel)

Bob Godfrey was born on January 27, 1921 in West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. He was a director and producer, known for Great (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) (1975), Henry's Cat (1983) and Kama Sutra Rides Again (1971). He was married to Beryl. He died on February 21, 2013.

SHORTS Know Your Europeans: The United Kingdom TELEVISION Henry's Cat (various episodes) Roobarb (thirty episodes)

40. Jorge Michel Grau

Director | Somos lo que hay

Jorge Michel Grau obtains a B.A. in Communication from the National Autonomous University of Mexico from 1994-1998 and then graduates with honors in Film Direction from the Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica (CCC); in his professional career he has started as a producer of documentaries and ...

FEATURES We Are What We Are The ABCs of Death* México Bárbaro**

* segment "I is for Ingrown" ** segment "Muñecas"

41. F. Gary Gray

Director | Set It Off

Felix Gary Gray is an African-American music video director, film producer and film director from New York City known for directing films such as Friday, Men in Black: International, Be Cool, The Fate of the Furious, Set It Off, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton and The Italian Job. He ...

FEATURES Straight Outta Compton Friday Set It Off Men in Black: International The Negotiator The Italian Job MUSIC VIDEOS Show Me What You Got Ms. Jackson Keep Their Heads Ringin' It Was a Good Day I Ain't Goin' Out Like That When the Ship Goes Down Waterfalls

42. Mikael Håfström

Writer | Ondskan

Mikael Håfström was born on July 1, 1960 in Lund, Skåne län, Sweden. He is a writer and director, known for Evil (2003), 1408 (2007) and The Rite (2011).

FEATURES 1408 Evil Shanghai TELEVISION Bloodline (five episodes)

43. Bent Hamer

Director | Salmer fra kjøkkenet

Bent Hamer was born on December 18, 1956 in Sandefjord, Norway. He is a well-regarded film auteur, director, producer, and writer, known for Eggs (1995), Kitchen Stories (2003), O' Horten (2007) and Factotum (2005).

Hamer studied film theory and literature at the University of Stockholm and the ...

FEATURES Kitchen Stories O' Horten Factotum

44. Thomas Hardiman

Director | Medusa Deluxe

Thomas Hardiman is known for Medusa Deluxe (2022), Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! (2023) and The Goob (2014).

FEATURES Medusa Deluxe SHORTS Radical Hardcore Pitch Black Panacea

45. Robin Hardy

Director | The Wicker Man

Robin Hardy was born on October 2, 1929 in Wimbledon, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Wicker Man (1973), Forbidden Sun (1988) and The Fantasist (1986). He was married to Victoria. He died on July 1, 2016 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.

FEATURES The Wicker Man The Fantasist The Wicker Tree

46. Owen Harris

Director | Black Mirror

Owen directed and executive produced the pilot plus four episodes of 'Mrs Davis' for Peacock/ WBTV. Owen won the Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Movie for Black Mirror's "San Junipero," which remains one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed episodes of the Black Mirror series, ...

FEATURES Holy Flying Circus The Gamechangers TELEVISION The Twilight Zone (one episode)

47. Toby Haynes

Director | Andor

Toby Haynes is working on the as yet un-named Star Wars: Cassian Andor series for Disney+. In 2020, he was nominated by BAFTA for his work on Brexit: The Uncivil War for both Best Director and Best Single Film. Brexit written by James Graham and starring Benedict Cumberbatch was also nominated for ...

FEATURES Brexit: The Uncivil War TELEVISION Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (seven episodes) Doctor Who (five episodes)

48. Nicole Holofcener

Director | Enough Said

Nicole Holofcener was born on March 22, 1960 in New York City, New York, USA. She is a director and writer, known for Enough Said (2013), Friends with Money (2006) and Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018). She was previously married to Benjamin Allanoff.

FEATURES Walking and Talking Enough Said Lovely & Amazing Please Give Friends with Money

49. Seth Holt

Producer | The Ladykillers

Seth Holt began as an assistant editor at Ealing in 1944, graduating to editor (1949), producer (1955) and director (1958).He returned to editing for Charles Crichton's The Battle of the Sexes (1960) and for Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960). Probably his best known film is The Nanny (1965),...

FEATURES The Nanny Scream of Fear Station Six Sahara Blood from the Mummy's Tomb Nowhere to Go

50. Aaron Hymes

Director | Parkway Drive: Wild Eyes

Aaron Hymes is known for Parkway Drive: Wild Eyes (2013), Kygo & Imagine Dragons: Born to Be Yours (2018) and Silversun Pickups: Toy Soldiers (2020).

MUSIC VIDEOS Passenger (Mike Shinoda Remix) Knife Prty (Purity Ring Remix) Toy Soldiers

51. Asif Kapadia

Director | The Warrior

Asif Kapadia is an Academy Award, Grammy and four time BAFTA winning Producer / Director / Writer who works across both film and television. Kapadia is known for his emotional engaging, visually striking, genre breaking films exploring 'outsiders' characters living in extreme circumstances, ...

FEATURES The Warrior SHORTS The Tale of Thomas Burberry DOCUMENTARIES Amy Senna TELEVISION Mindhunter (two episodes)

52. Dagur Kári

Director | Voksne mennesker

Dagur Kári was born on December 12, 1973 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for Voksne mennesker (2005), Nói albinói (2003) and The Good Heart (2009).

FEATURES Nói Albinói Dark Horse SHORTS Lost Weekend

53. Eric Khoo

Director | Be with Me

Cultural Medallion recipient and award winning film maker Eric Khoo who helms Zhao Wei Films/ Gorylah Pictures has been credited for reviving the Singapore film industry and for putting Singapore onto the International film map in 1995. He was the first Singaporean to have his films invited to ...

FEATURES Tatsumi 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero* Recipe

* segment "Eric Khoo"

54. Zoltan Korda

Director | Cry, the Beloved Country

A one time Hungarian cavalry officer, Zoltan Korda started working in films as a cameraman then an editor before becoming a director with London Films run by his brother Alexander Korda. Zoltan had strong liberal/socialist ideals and often clashed with Alexander, who, despite their both being born ...

FEATURES The Thief of Bagdad The Four Feathers Sahara Counter-Attack The Jungle Book The Drum Storm Over the Nile

55. Nadine Labaki

Actress | Et maintenant on va où?

Nadine Labaki was born on February 18, 1974 in Beirut, Lebanon. She is an actress and director, known for Where Do We Go Now? (2011), Capernaum (2018) and Caramel (2007). She has been married to Khaled Mouzanar since October 2007.

FEATURES Capernaum Caramel Rio, I Love You*

* segment "O Milagre"

56. David LaChapelle

Director | Rize

By 2011, LaChapelle had a major exhibition of new works at The Lever House in New York and went on to have retrospectives at the Museo Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico, the Hangaram Design Museum in Seoul, and Galerie Rudolfinum in Prague. In the following years, LaChapelle's works ...

MUSIC VIDEOS This Train Don't Stop There Anymore I'm Glad Natural Blues Everytime Feeling This It's My Life Tears Dry on Their Own Rich Girl The Voice Within Can't Hold Us Down I'm With You Super Duper Love Dirrty

57. Karen Lamond

Director | Consumed

Karen Lamond is known for Consumed (2020), Lamb: God Bless (1996) and Lamb: Cotton Wool (1996).

MUSIC VIDEOS Gorecki Black Eyed Boy Sleep

58. Paul Landres

Director | The Return of Dracula

Paul Landres was born on August 21, 1912 in New York City, New York, USA. Paul was a director and editor, known for The Return of Dracula (1958), The Vampire (1957) and Navy Bound (1951). Paul was married to Jean Landres. Paul died on December 26, 2001 in Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA.

FEATURES The Vampire The Return of Dracula TELEVISION The Rifleman (one episode)

59. Max Lang

Writer | The Gruffalo

Max Lang was born in 1982 in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is an assistant director and writer, known for The Gruffalo (2009), The Snail and the Whale (2019) and Room on the Broom (2012).

SHORTS The Gruffalo The Snail and the Whale Room on the Broom Zog

60. Bart Layton

Writer | American Animals

Bart is a multi-award winning writer, director and executive producer known for creating ground-breaking work and pushing the boundaries of conventional story-telling techniques.

Bart has been the Creative Director of leading British production company RAW for the past 14 years where he has created ...

FEATURES American Animals DOCUMENTARIES The Imposter Banged Up Abroad - Venezuela (James and Paul's Story)

61. Rich Lee

Visual_effects | Minority Report

Rich Lee is known for Minority Report (2002), I Am Legend (2007) and Tears of the Sun (2003).

MUSIC VIDEOS T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) The Monster Love Never Felt So Good Crazy Stupid Love L.A. Love (La La) Hush Hush; Hush Hush Clumsy Don't Hold Your Breath Check It Out The Time (Dirty Bit)

62. Sang-il Lee

Director | Akunin

Sang-il Lee was born on January 6, 1974 in Niigata, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Villain (2010), Rage (2016) and Hura gâru (2006).

FEATURES Unforgiven Hula Girls Villain

63. Sebastián Lelio

Director | Una mujer fantástica

Born in 1974, Sebastián Lelio is one of the leading figures (along with Pablo Larraín, Andrés Wood and a few others) of the post-dictatorship Chilean cinema. After graduating from the "Escuela de Cine de Chile" in Santiago, Lelio started by making shorts (he made five from 1995 to 2003, as well as ...

FEATURES Disobedience A Fantastic Woman Gloria Bell Gloria

64. Daniel Levi

Director | Henry

Daniel Levi is known for Henry (2013), Free State (2023) and Nothing About Nothing (2012).

MUSIC VIDEOS Butterfly Caught Freak Hotride

65. Henry Levin

Director | April Love

A former stage actor and director, Henry Levin had a long and prolific career in films. Entering the business in 1943 as a dialogue director, he graduated to directing features the next year, and turned out films in just about every genre over the next 36 years. His heyday was in the 1960s, when he...

FEATURES Journey to the Center of the Earth Murderers' Row The Ambushers

66. Ulli Lommel

Actor | Strangers in Paradise

Widely known for his frequent collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a creative partnership which lasted 10 years and produced over 20 films, Ulli Lommel is one of the most consistently creative filmmakers to come from the New German Cinema movement.

The son of German comic performer Ludwig ...

FEATURES The Boogeyman Prozzie Tenderness of the Wolves

67. Alison Maclean

Director | Jesus' Son

Alison Maclean was born on July 31, 1958 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is a director and writer, known for Jesus' Son (1999), Kitchen Sink (1989) and Crush (1992).

FEATURES Jesus' Son SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground* MUSIC VIDEOS Torn Big Mistake TELEVISION Carnivàle (one episode)

* segment "Honey-Getter"

68. Melina Matsoukas

Director | Queen & Slim

Melina Matsoukas was born on January 14, 1981. She is a director and producer, known for Queen & Slim (2019), Insecure (2016) and Beyoncé: Formation (2016).

FEATURES Queen & Slim MUSIC VIDEOS Hard Sensual Seduction Return the Favor Rude Boy Wow Closer Tambourine In My Arms We Found Love Green Light Bleeding Love Just Dance COMMERCIALS Equality

69. Joe May

Director | Asphalt

A businessman and operetta director, Joe May, one of the founders of the German cinema, started directing films in 1911 and started his own production company a few years later. He gave famous German director Fritz Lang his start in films, employing him as a screenwriter in his early films. After ...

FEATURES Asphalt The Invisible Man Returns Confession

70. Colm McCarthy

Director | The Girl with All the Gifts

Colm McCarthy is a director best known for his work on Peaky Blinders, Sherlock and Endeavour. He was born in Edinburgh and has lived there as well as in Dublin and London. He is happily married and plays a grand total of eight musical instruments all appallingly badly.

He did not formally train in ...

FEATURES Outcast The Girl with All the Gifts TELEVISION Doctor Who (one episode) Black Mirror (one episode)

71. Adam McKay

Producer | The Other Guys

Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. McKay has a comedy partnership with Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys. Ferrell and McKay also founded their comedy website Funny or Die through ...

FEATURES Vice SHORTS Kenny Powers: The K-Swiss MFCEO TELEVISION Eastbound & Down (one episode)

72. Norman McLaren

Producer | Neighbours

Norman McLaren is one of the most awarded filmmakers in the history of Canadian cinema, and a pioneer in both animation and filmmaking. Born in Scotland, he entered the Glasgow School of Fine Arts in 1932 to study set design. His early experiments in animation included actually scratching and ...

SHORTS Synchromy Lines: Vertical Keep Your Mouth Shut

73. Paul Merton

Actor | Have I Got News for You

Paul Merton was born on July 9, 1957 in Parsons Green, London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Have I Got News for You (1990), Rango (2011) and Paul Merton: The Series (1991). He has been married to Suki Webster since 2009. He was previously married to Sarah Parkinson and Caroline...

DOCUMENTARIES Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood Paul Merton's Weird and Wonderful World of Early Cinema Paul Merton Looks at Alfred Hitchcock

74. David Miller

Director | The Story of Esther Costello

David Miller was born on November 28, 1909 in Paterson, New Jersey, USA. He was a director and writer, known for The Story of Esther Costello (1957), Twist of Fate (1954) and Flying Tigers (1942). He was married to Frances Raeburn. He died on April 14, 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

FEATURES Lonely Are the Brave Flying Tigers Sudden Fear Beautiful Stranger Hammerhead Midnight Lace Love Happy SHORTS Let's Dance DOCUMENTARIES Seeds of Destiny

75. Stanley Nelson

Producer | American Experience

Stanley Nelson is among the premier documentary filmmakers working today. His feature-length films combine compelling narratives with rich and deeply researched historical detail, shining new light on both familiar and under-explored aspects of the American past.

In addition to honors for his ...

DOCUMENTARIES The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Attica Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple American Experience - The Murder of Emmett Till Becoming Frederick Douglass

76. Fred Niblo

The Artist

Fred Niblo entered films in 1917 after two decades as a touring actor in vaudeville and one-time manager of 'The Four Cohans' (he married Josephine Cohan, the sister of George M. Cohan). He made his film debut with two early Australian silent films in 1916. He worked for Thomas H. Ince from 1917 as ...

FEATURES Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ The Mark of Zorro Sex

77. George Nolfi

Writer | The Bourne Ultimatum

George Nolfi is an American writer-director best known for Bourne Ultimatum, Oceans Twelve, and The Adjustment Bureau. His most recent film, The Banker, starring Sam Jackson and Anthony Mackie won the 2021 NAACP Image Award for Best Independent Motion Picture.

Nolfi's first screenwriting credit was ...

FEATURES Birth of the Dragon The Adjustment Bureau MUSIC VIDEOS Future's Bright

78. Joris Oprins

Director | A Single Life

Joris Oprins is known for A Single Life (2014), (Otto) (2015) and Kop Op (2017).

(with Job Roggeveen and Marieke Blaauw as Job, Joris & Marieke)

SHORTS A Single Life Kop Op MUSIC VIDEOS Robotic

79. Nam June Paik

Soundtrack | Shutter Island

Nam June Paik was the first video artist who experimented with electronic media and made a profound impact on the art of video and television. He coined the phrase "Information Superhighway" in 1974, and has been called the "father of video art."

He was born Nam June Paik on July 20, 1932 in Seoul, ...

SHORTS Electronic Moon No. 2 Video Tape Study No. 3 DOCUMENTARIES Topless Cellist

80. Ho-Cheung Pang

Writer | Chi Ming yi Chun Kiu

In 1994, Pang Ho-cheung started his career in the media industry by working as a variety show scriptwriter for Asia Television. By this time, Pang was active in several media. He was working as a scriptwriter, a host for radio and television shows, a columnist, a magazine editor and a copywriter. ...

FEATURES Vulgaria Dream Home SHORTS Summer Exercise

81. Simon Pummell

Director | Identicals

Simon Pummell was born in 1959 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Identicals (2015), Bodysong (2003) and Temptation of Sainthood (1993).

SHORTS Blinded by Light How Long is a Minute DOCUMENTARIES Bodysong

82. Philip Ridley

Writer | Heartless

Philip was born in the East End of London where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin's School of Art and has exhibited widely throughout Europe. As a novelist his credits include Crocodilia (1988), In The Eyes Of Mr. Fury (Penguin, 1989), Flamingoes In Orbit (Hamish Hamilton, ...

FEATURES The Reflecting Skin SHORTS Visiting Mr. Beak The Universe of Dermot Finn

83. Boots Riley

Soundtrack | Sorry to Bother You

Boots Riley was born on April 1, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Sorry to Bother You (2018), I'm a Virgo (2023) and The Losers (2010).

FEATURES Sorry to Bother You MUSIC VIDEOS Me and Jesus the Pimp in a '79 Grenada Last Night DOCUMENTARIES Eating Forever

84. Joachim Rønning

Director | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Joachim Rønning is a film director and writer from Sandefjord, Norway - a small coastal town south of Oslo. He spent his teenage years making short films and shooting commercials for local businesses. In 1995 Rønning began directing professionally with his childhood friend, Espen Sandberg. Working ...

FEATURES Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Kon-Tiki Max Manus Bandidas SHORTS Kubisten

85. The Sacred Egg

Assistant_director | Bohemian Rhapsody

The Sacred Egg is known for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Smirnoff: We Do Atomic (2023) and Depeche Mode: Wagging Tongue (2023).

(Alex Mavor and Ed Kaye)

MUSIC VIDEOS Everything You Never Had (We Had It All) Jack COMMERCIALS William Hill

86. Pierre Salvadori

Writer | En liberté!

Born on November 8, 1964 in Tunisia, Pierre Salvadori studied literature and cinema at the Censier site of the New Sorbonne University of Paris. He also followed a training in drama. He wrote his first screenplay in 1989 which, four years later, became the basis of Wild Target (1993), his first ...

FEATURES Priceless Après Vous... Beautiful Lies

87. Dan Scanlon

Writer | Onward

Dan Scanlon joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2001 as a storyboard artist on Pixar's award-winning feature films "Cars" and "Toy Story 3." During the initial production stages for both films, he worked closely with the directors to bring their ideas to the screen.

Scanlon went on to ...

FEATURES Monsters University Onward SHORTS Mater and the Ghostlight

88. David Schmoeller

Director | Little Monsters

Raised and educated in Texas, David Schmoeller began his career as a young playwright and was awarded the Texas Good Neighbor Scholarship for studies in Mexico, attending the Universidad De Las Americas from 1967-1968. In Mexico he studied theater with Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo (1970)) and was ...

FEATURES Tourist Trap Puppet Master DOCUMENTARIES Please Kill Mr. Kinski

89. Dash Shaw

Writer | My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea

Dash Shaw is known for My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (2016), Cryptozoo (2021) and Rabbit Hole (2010).

FEATURES My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea Cryptozoo SHORTS Seraph

90. Chris Smith

Producer | Tiger King

Chris Smith was born in 1970. He is known for Tiger King (2020), Fyre (2019) and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017).

DOCUMENTARIES Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond - Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton American Movie "Sr."

91. Juan Solanas

Cinematographer | L'homme sans tête

Born in Buenos Aires on November 4th 1966, Juan Diego Solanas is the son of one of Argentina's most important directors, Fernando E. Solanas. In 1977, he followed his father to France when the latter fled his country where dictatorship was rife. There, he studied art history and gave free rein to ...

FEATURES Upside Down SHORTS The Man Without a Head Let's Dream of a New World

92. Mauritz Stiller

Director | Erotikon

Moshe "Mauritz" Stiller, born July 17, 1883, in Helsinki, Finland, was a director, writer and actor. He began his artistic activity in the theatre, as an actor at 16. Mauritz Stiller portrayed 87 roles from 1899-1916 and directed 16 productions 1911-28. Together with Viktor Sjöström ( director, ...

FEATURES The Story of Gosta Berling Barbed Wire Thomas Graal's Best Film

93. Éric Toledano

Writer | Intouchables

Éric Toledano was born on July 3, 1971 in Paris, France. He is a writer and producer, known for The Intouchables (2011), The Specials (2019) and C'est la vie! (2017).

(with Olivier Nakache)

FEATURES Intouchables Samba SHORTS The Life and Soul of the Party

94. Bill Viola

Director | Hatsu yume

A pioneer in the medium of video art, Bill Viola's work explores the spiritual and perceptual side of human experience. Since 1970 he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances and pieces for television. Works include Hatsu yume (...

DOCUMENTARIES The Passing Hatsu-Yume I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

95. Leigh Whannell

Actor | Saw

Leigh Whannell grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where, at the age of four, he developed an obsession with telling stories. Whether it be through acting, writing or filmmaking, his primary love was getting a reaction from an audience. In 1995, at the age of 18, he was accepted into the Royal ...

FEATURES The Invisible Man Upgrade MUSIC VIDEOS Ceremony

96. Daniel Wolfe

Director | Catch Me Daddy

Daniel Wolfe is known for Catch Me Daddy (2014), Paolo Nutini: Iron Sky (2014) and The Shoes: Time to Dance (2012).

FEATURES Catch Me Daddy MUSIC VIDEOS Time to Dance Warwick Avenue Girls Mercy

97. Chuck Workman

Editor | The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation

Chuck Workman's theatrical short, "Precious Images," made for the Directors Guild of America, won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short and has become the most widely shown short in film history. It was recently selected as a landmark film for preservation by the Library of Congress National ...

SHORTS Precious Images DOCUMENTARIES Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles What Is Cinema?

98. Krzysztof Zanussi

Director | Struktura krysztalu

Born in 1939 in Warsaw, Poland. Documentary and feature film director. Studied physics at Warsaw University and philosophy at Jagiellonian University in Cracow. Graduated from Lodz Film Academy in 1966. Amateur film maker. His school diploma film 'Death of a Provincial' (Smierc prowincjala (1968)) ...

FEATURES The Structure of Crystal Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease Venice 70: Future Reloaded*

* segment "Krzysztof Zanussi"

99. Yuan Zhang

Director | Kan shang qu hen mei

Yuan Zhang was born in October 1963 in Nanjing, China. He is a director and producer, known for Kan shang qu hen mei (2006), Seventeen Years (1999) and East Palace, West Palace (1996).

FEATURES Little Red Flowers Beijing Bastards SHORTS 42 One Dream Rush*

* segment "Untitled"

100. Erick Zonca

Writer | La vie rêvée des anges

Erick Zonca was born on September 10, 1956 in Orléans, Loiret, France. He is a writer and director, known for The Dreamlife of Angels (1998), Julia (2008) and Black Tide (2018).

FEATURES The Dreamlife of Angels Julia Le Petit Voleur