Breakthrough Film Directors of 2021
by tomlev-03240 | created - 03 Sep 2021 | updated - 30 Nov 2021 | Public
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda
Soundtrack | Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the first incarnation of "In the Heights" his sophomore year at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Off-Broadway, "In The Heights" received nine Drama Desk nominations, including best music, best lyrics, and it won the award for outstanding ensemble performance; received ...
Tick Tick Boom
2. Fran Kranz
Actor | The Cabin in the Woods
Francis Elliott "Fran" Kranz is an American film, television and Broadway actor. Kranz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He started acting in third and fourth grade, and knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an actor. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 1999 and...
Mass
3. Rebecca Hall
Actress | Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rebecca Hall was born in London, England, the daughter of Peter Hall, a stage director and founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Maria Ewing, an opera singer. Her father was English. Her mother, who is American, is of Dutch and African-American origin. Her parents separated when she was ...
Passing
4. Halle Berry
Actress | Catwoman
Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Oakwood, Ohio to Judith Ann Berry (née Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse & Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. ...
Brusied
5. Shaka King
Director | Judas and the Black Messiah
Shaka King was born on March 7, 1980 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), Newlyweeds (2013) and Mulignans (2015).
Judas and the Black Messiah
6. Jeymes Samuel
Soundtrack | The Harder They Fall
Jeymes Samuel, also known as The Bullitts, is an English writer, director, singer-songwriter and music producer from London.
In 2013 Jeymes worked alongside Baz Luhrmann and Jay Z on the music for the blockbuster The Great Gatsby. Jeymes served as the film's Executive Music Consultant.
2013 also saw ...
The Harder They Fall
7. Natalie Morales
Actress | Parks and Recreation
Natalie Morales was born in Miami, Florida, and is of Cuban descent. She studied Theatre at Miami Dade College and Florida International University. In 2006, Natalie landed a guest star role on an episode of the CBS drama, CSI: Miami (2002): CSI: Miami: Darkroom (2006). In 2008, Natalie starred on ...
Plan B
8. Eddie Huang
Writer | Boogie
Eddie Huang was born on March 1, 1982 in Washington, D.C., USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Boogie (2021), Tuna Melt and Fresh Off the Boat (2015).
Boogie
9. Viggo Mortensen
Actor | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Since his screen debut as a young Amish farmer in Peter Weir's Witness (1985), Viggo Mortensen's career has been marked by a steady string of well-rounded performances.
Mortensen was born in New York City, to Grace Gamble (Atkinson) and Viggo Peter Mortensen, Sr. His father was Danish, his mother ...
Falling
10. John Pollono
Writer | Stronger
John Pollono was born on May 23, 1972 in Syosset, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Stronger (2017), Small Engine Repair (2021) and Untitled Hulk Hogan Biopic.
Small Engine Repair
11. Liesl Tommy
Director | Respect
Liesl Tommy is known for Respect (2021), Jessica Jones (2015) and The Walking Dead (2010).
Respect
Mortal Kombat
13. Regina King
Actress | Ray
Regina King was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gloria, a special education teacher, and Thomas King, an electrician. She began her career in the television show 227 (1985), followed by a role in Boyz n the Hood (1991). She began to be recognized by a mainstream audience after her role as Cuba ...
One Night in Miami
14. 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
15. Robin Wright
Actress | Forrest Gump
Robin Gayle Wright was born in Dallas, Texas, to Gayle (Gaston), a national director at Mary Kay, and Freddie Wright, a pharmaceutical executive. She grew up in San Diego, California. She started her professional career as a model in 1980 at age 14, and worked both in Paris and Japan. After ...
Land
16. Anthony Mandler
Director | Monster
Renowned American director Anthony Mandler first made his mark directing some of today's top music artists such as Taylor Swift, Jay Z, The Weeknd, The Killers and Drake. His long collaboration with Rihanna shaped her visual style as they collaborated on 15 videos together. His trilogy of films ...
Monster
18. Bennett Lasseter
Director | Stealth
Bennett Lasseter is known for Stealth (2015), The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021) and Gangbusters.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise
19. Roman White
Director | A Week Away
Roman White is known for A Week Away (2021), Summer Forever (2015) and Taylor Swift: You Belong with Me (2009).
A Week Away
20. Quoc Bao Tran
Director | The Paper Tigers
Bao's first feature film The Paper Tigers (2020) garnered praise from Variety as an "irresistibly good-humored debut," while the New York Times remarked his "lighthearted, refreshing approach neither succumbs to whitewashing nor the model-minority myth." Rotten Tomatoes ranks it as one of the Best ...
The Paper Tigers
21. Rodo Sayagues
Producer | Don't Breathe
Rodo Sayagues is known for Don't Breathe (2016), Don't Breathe 2 (2021) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022).
Don't Breathe 2
22. Ricky Staub
Writer | Concrete Cowboy
Ricky Staub is known for Concrete Cowboy (2020), The Cage (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).
Concrete Cowboy
23. Danielle Lessovitz
Director | Port Authority
Danielle Lessovitz is a San Francisco-born writer/director in film and advertising. She is based in New York City and works internationally in countries such as Italy, Ecuador, Brazil, and China. Trained in documentary film at Northwestern's prestigious Annenberg School of Communications she ...
Port Authority
24. Maritte Lee Go
Producer | Rise
Maritte Lee Go is known for Rise (2023), A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story (2023) and Remittance (2018).
Black as Night
25. Ben Simms
Producer | You vs. Wild
Ben Simms is known for You vs. Wild (2019), Running Wild with Bear Grylls (2014) and Escape the Undertaker (2021).
Escape the Undertaker
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