Directors to look out for

1. Robert Eggers

Robert Houston Eggers is an American filmmaker and production designer. He is best known for writing and directing the historical horror films The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019), as well as directing and co-writing the historical fiction epic film The Northman (2022). His films are noted ...

The Witch (2015) The Lighthouse (2019) The Nortman (upcoming) The Vampyr (upcoming) The Knight (upcoming)

2. Ari Aster

Director | Hereditary

Ari Aster is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for writing and directing the A24 horror films Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019). Aster was born into a Jewish family in New York City on July 15, 1986, the son of a poet mother and musician father. He has a ...

Hereditary (2018) Midsommar (2019) Disappointmen Blvd. (upcoming)

3. Jordan Peele

Writer | Nope

Jordan Peele is an Oscar- and Emmy-winning director, writer, actor, producer, and founder of Monkeypaw Productions. Peele's first feature film, "Get Out," was a critically acclaimed blockbuster, recognized with four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The film would earn Peele the ...

Get Out (2017) Us (2019)

4. Greta Gerwig

Writer | Barbie

Greta Gerwig is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director. She has collaborated with Noah Baumbach on several films, including Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2012), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015). Gerwig made her solo directorial debut ...

Nights and Weekends (2008) Lady Bird (2017) Little Women (2019) Barbie (upcoming)

5. Amy Seimetz

Actress | Upstream Color

Amy Seimetz first came to prominence producing and directing shorts and independent films. Most notably associate producing Barry Jenkins' Medicine For Melancholy which was nominated for Gotham and Independent Spirit Awards, after playing at South By Southwest and the Toronto International Film ...

Sun Don't Shine (2012) She Dies Tomorrow (2020)

6. Stephen Chbosky

Writer | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky was born on January 25, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Wonder (2017) and Rent (2005). He has been married to Liz Maccie since September 18, 2010. They have two children.

The Four Corners of Nowhere (1995) The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Wonder (2017) Dear Evan Hansen (upcoming) Prince Charming (upcoming)

7. Alex Garland

Writer | Ex Machina

Alex Garland is an English novelist, screenwriter, film producer and director. He is best known for the films Ex Machina (2015) and Annihilation (2018).

Garland's others works as a writer includes The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), Never Let Me Go (2011) and Dredd (2012).

He is ...

Ex Machina (2014) Annihilation (2018) Men (upcoming)

8. Chad Stahelski

Producer | John Wick: Chapter 4

He came from a kick-boxing background; he entered the film field as a stunt performer at the age of 24. Before that, he worked as an instructor at the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy in California, teaching Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan. After doing numerous roles in low budget martial art movies like Mission...

John Wick (2014) John Wick 2 (2017) John Wick 3 (2019) John Wick 4 (upcoming) Highlander (upcoming) Ghost of Tsushima (upcoming) Sandman Slim (upcoming) Kill or Be Killed (upcoming) Classified (upcoming)

9. David Robert Mitchell

Writer | It Follows

David Robert Mitchell is an American director mainly known for the breakout horror film ''It Follows'' which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2014. in 2002, Mitchell wrote and directed ''Virgin'' a short film featuring Carolina Castro and Cameron Diskin about a local legend...

The Myth of the American Sleepover (2008) It Follows (2014) Under the Silver Lake (2018)

10. Ryan Coogler

Director | Black Panther

Ryan Kyle Coogler is an African-American filmmaker and producer who is from Oakland, California. He is known for directing the Black Panther film series, Creed, a Rocky spin-off and Fruitvale Station. He frequently casts Michael B. Jordan in his works. He produced the Creed sequels, Judas and the ...

Fruitvale Station (2013) Creed (2015) Black Panther (2018) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (upcoming) Wrong Answer (upcoming)

11. Barry Jenkins

Producer | If Beale Street Could Talk

Barry Jenkins was born on November 19, 1979 in Miami, Florida, USA. He is a producer and director, known for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Moonlight (2016) and Aftersun (2022).

Medicine for Melancholy (2008) Moonlight (2016) If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) Lion King Prequel (upcoming)

12. David F. Sandberg

Director | Shazam!

David F. Sandberg is a Swedish film director from Jönköping who is known for directing the superhero comedy film Shazam and the horror films Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. He lives on the autism spectrum. He also provided the voice of Mister Mind at the end of Shazam and made several short ...

Lights Out (2016) Annabelle: Creation (2017) Shazam! (2019) Shazam! Fury of the Gods (upcoming)

13. David Bruckner

Director | The Night House

David Bruckner is known for The Night House (2020), The Ritual (2017) and Southbound (2015).

The Signal (2007) The Ritual (2018) Night House (2021) Hellraiser (upcoming)

14. 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).

In Brudges (2008) Seven Psychopaths (2012) Three Billboards (2017) The Banshees of Inisherin (upcoming)

15. Debra Granik

Director | Leave No Trace

Debra Granik (born February 6, 1963) is an American New York City-based independent film and documentary film director and screenwriter. She is most known for 2004's Down to the Bone, which starred Vera Farmiga, 2010's Winter's Bone, which starred Jennifer Lawrence in her breakout performance and ...

Down to the Bone (2004) Winter's Bone (2010) Leave No Trace (2018)

16. Trey Edward Shults

Director | Waves

Trey Edward Shults was born on October 6, 1988 in Montgomery, Texas, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Waves (2019), It Comes at Night (2017) and Krisha (2015).

Krisha (2015) It Comes at Night (2017) Waves (2019)

17. Jameson Brooks

Director | Bomb City

Jameson Brooks is a writer, director, and editor originally from Amarillo, Texas. He is a former BMX and skateboard enthusiast, and is best known for his film Bomb City (2017) based on controversial story of late punk rocker, Brian Deneke. Notable work includes the internationally acclaimed Behold ...

Bomb City (2018)

18. Justin P. Lange

Director | The Dark

Justin P. Lange is known for The Dark (2018), The Dark (2013) and Vater Paul (2010).

The Dark (2018) The Seventh Day (2021)

19. John Krasinski

Actor | Jack Ryan

American actor John Krasinski is known for his role as sardonic nice guy Jim Halpert on NBC's popular TV sitcom, The Office (2005), for which he won a 2007 and 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.

Born John Burke Krasinski on October 20, 1979,...

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (2009) The Hollars (2016) A Quiet Place (2018) A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

20. Greg Berlanti

Director | Love, Simon

WGA, DGA and Golden Globe nominated writer, director, and producer, Greg Berlanti, is the force behind several of the most inventive and acclaimed works of film and television.

He is the writer, director and producer behind several of the most creative and lauded television series, including ABC's "...

The Broken Hearts Club (2000) Life as We Know It (2010) Love, Simon (2018) Little Shop of Horrors (upcoming) Booster Gold (upcoming)

21. Rose Glass

Director | Saint Maud

Rose Glass was destined to be a director from a young age. Upon leaving home she studied film and video at London College of Communication, UAL - where she directed her first 'proper' shorts - and also gained experience as a runner on professional sets. Eventually she made her way to the NFTS, ...

Saint Maud (2020)

22. Darius Marder

Writer | Sound of Metal

Darius Marder is known for Sound of Metal (2019), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and Loot (2008). He is married to Liza Cassidy. They have two children.

Sound of Metal (2020)

23. Karen Maine

Director | Yes, God, Yes

Karen Maine is known for Yes, God, Yes (2019), Obvious Child (2014) and Obvious Child (2009).

Yes, God, Yes (2020)

24. Andrew Patterson

Writer | The Vast of Night

Andrew Patterson is known for The Vast of Night (2019), The Rivals of Amziah King and Team Deakins (2020).

The Vast of Night (2020)

25. Joe Talbot

Director | The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Joe Talbot is a fifth-generation San Franciscan and award-winning filmmaker. His feature-length debut, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" -- adapted from the life of childhood friend and longtime collaborator, Jimmie Fails -- won the 2019 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award, as well as a ...

The Last Black Man is San Francisco (2019)

26. Jim Cummings

Director | Thunder Road

Jim Cummings is known for Thunder Road (2018), The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) and The Beta Test (2021). Jim has been married to Julia Bales since September 10, 2022.

27. Tomm Moore

Producer | WolfWalkers

Tomm Moore was born on January 7, 1977 in Newry, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a producer and writer, known for Wolfwalkers (2020), Song of the Sea (2014) and The Secret of Kells (2009). He is married to Liselott Olofsson. They have one child.

28. Ross Stewart

Art_director | WolfWalkers

Ross Stewart is known for Wolfwalkers (2020), ParaNorman (2012) and Spies in Disguise (2019).

29. Chloé Zhao

Director | Nomadland

Chloé Zhao or Zhao Ting (born March 31, 1982) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter, and producer. Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Her second feature film, The Rider (2017), was critically acclaimed and received several accolades ...

30. Antonio Campos

Producer | The Staircase

Antonio Campos is an American filmmaker

Campos made his feature-length debut on Afterschool, which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was later acquired by IFC Films. It was released in a limited release on October 2, 2009. Campos then went on to direct Simon Killer. The ...

31. Charlie Kaufman

Writer | I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Avid reader Charlie Kaufman wrote plays and made short films as a young student. He moved from Massapequa, New York to West Hartford, Connecticut in 1972 where he attended high school. As a comedic actor, he performed in school plays and, after graduation, he enrolled at Boston University but soon ...

32. Emma Seligman

Director | Shiva Baby

Emma Seligman was born on May 3, 1995 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is a director and writer, known for Shiva Baby (2020), Bottoms (2023) and Shiva Baby (2018).

33. Florian Zeller

Writer | The Father

Florian Zeller is a French writer and director. He is, according to the Times, "the most exciting playwright of our time." He has written more than 10 plays, which have been staged in more than 45 countries. His black-comedy play "The Father" is one of the outstanding hits of recent years. It has ...

34. Lawrence Michael Levine

Writer | Black Bear

Lawrence Michael Levine is known for Black Bear (2020), Wild Canaries (2014) and Gabi on the Roof in July (2010).

35. Eliza Hittman

Director | Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Eliza Hittman was born on January 1, 1979 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is a director and producer, known for Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020), Beach Rats (2017) and It Felt Like Love (2013).

36. Carey Williams

Director | Emergency

Hailed by Filmmaker Magazine as one of 2018's New Faces of Independent Film, Carey Williams is a director bringing a unique and visually striking cinematic eye to the exploration of the human condition. His films have garnered awards from Sundance, SXSW, Seattle International and NBC to name a few....

37. Hogir Hirori

Director | Sabaya

Hogir Hirori was born on May 7, 1980 in Duhok, Kurdistan. He is a director and editor, known for Sabaya (2021), The Deminer (2017) and The Girl Who Saved My Life (2016).

38. Jerrod Carmichael

Producer | On the Count of Three

Jerrod Carmichael was born on April 6, 1987 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for On the Count of Three (2021), 8 (2017) and The Carmichael Show (2015).

39. 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).

40. Sian Heder

Writer | CODA

Sian Heder was born on June 23, 1977 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for CODA (2021), Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Little America (2020). She is married to David Newsom. They have two children.