Pedro Almodóvar screened two of his early films, What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984) and Law of Desire (1987), at New Directors/New Films. Since then, he’s established himself as an internationally acclaimed writer and director. His latest film Los abrazos rotos marks his fourth collaboration with actress, Penelope Cruz.
Greek filmmaker Theodoros Angelopoulos screened O Thiasos at the 1976 New Directors/New Films and also won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival the same year. Since then, he’s collected even more awards at Cannes and other notable festivals for films such as Ulysses’ Gaze (1995) and Eternity and a Day (1998).
In the twelve years since his film Pi which screened at the 1998 New Directors/New Films, Darren Aronofsky has built an impressive career with films like Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler. He’s currently filming Black Swan with Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel.
Yvan Attal, an Israeli-born French actor and director, screened My Wife Is An Actress at New Directors/New Films in 2002. Attal has acted in over thirty films and directed a segment in the 2009 anthology film, New York, I Love You.
Atom Egoyan’s film Family Viewing screened here at New Directors/New Films in 1987. Since then, he’s been lauded at numerous festivals such as Berlin and Cannes for his many acclaimed films including The Sweet Hereafter, Ararat, and one of his latest works, Adoration.
Michael Haneke made his feature film debut with The Seventh Continent which screened at New Directors/New Films in 1989. His lastest film The White Ribbon won the Palme d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, and also won this year’s Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 1984 film, A Summer at Grandpa’s, screened at New Directors/New Films and since then, he has been nominated six times for a Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival. In Film Comment’s 50 Best Films of the Decade, Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Millennium Mambo placed number 44. His upcoming 2010 film, The Assassin, is currently in pre-production.
Jia Zhangke’s sophomore film Xiao Wu screened at New Directors/New Films in 1997. Three years later, he wrote and directed Platform (2000), which placed number 11 on Film Comment’s 50 Best Films of the Decade list. Jia is currently in production for Moving the Arts with fellow New Directors/New Films alumnus Atom Egoyan.
Chen Kaige has made cinema history with films like Farewell My Concubine and Temptress Moon, both starring Chinese actress Gong Li, since screening his film, Yellow Earth, at the 1984 New Directors/New Films.
Kim Jee-Woon screened his film The Foul King at New Directors/New Films in 2001. In just 10 years, he’s made a wide variety of films including The Good, the Bad, the Weird, A Bittersweet Life, and A Tale of Two Sisters.
When the Cat’s Away, directed by Cedric Klapisch, screened here in 1996. He’s directed some phenomenal films in the last 14 years including L’auberge espagnole (2002) and his latest film, Paris (2008).
One of Spike Lee’s earliest films, Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, screened at the 1982 New Directors/New Films. In his journey as a film director, he’s made exceptional films such as Do the Right Thing, 4 Little Girls, and 25th Hour. His most recent work include Miracle at St. Anna and his documentary on the Tony-winning Broadway musical, Passing Strange.
Richard Linklater’s film Slacker screened at New Directors/New Films in 1990 and also picked up a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Since then, he’s made a range of unique films such as Before Sunset, A Scanner Darkly, and the recent, Me and Orson Welles.
Christopher Nolan has been unstoppable since his screening of Following at the 1998 New Directors/New Films. He’s made unforgettable films such as Memento, Insomnia, and The Dark Knight. His newest film, Inception, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, and Ellen Page, will be out this July 2010.
At 101 years old, Manoel de Oliveira is the oldest active filmmaker. He screened Doomed Love at the 1979 New Directors/New Films at age 71 and in his long career, has made important films such as The Letter (1999) and Journey to the Beginning of the World (1997).
English film director Sally Potter screened Orlando at the 1992 New Directors/New Films. That same year, Orlando garnered awards and nominations at the Venice Film Festival, the BAFTA Awards, the Independent Spirit Awards, and the Academy Awards. Recent work by Potter include Rage (2009) and Yes (2004).
During the 2008 New York Film Festival, Michelle Williams was a revelation in Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy. Just two years earlier at New Directors/New Films in 2006, Reichardt screened Old Joy. Her next film, Meek’s Cutoff, is another collaboration with actress, Michelle Williams.
Jason Reitman screened his film In God We Trust at New Directors/New Films in 1999. In less than 10 years, he’s made award-winning films such as Juno, Thank You for Smoking, and his latest, Up in the Air, which received the Best Screenplay award at the 2010 Golden Globes.
Kevin Smith screened Clerks in 1993 at New Directors/New Films which also won awards at Cannes Film Festival and ever since, he’s been a writing, directing, and acting machine. He’s produced an incredible amount of work including Chasing Amy, Dogma, and the recent, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Peter Sollet’s short film Five Feet High and Rising, which he made as a student at New York University, screened at the 1999 New Directors/New Films and also won the Cinefondation Award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. While he’s still a fairly new director, he’s made noteworthy films such as Raising Victor Vargas and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse screened at the 1996 New Directors/New Films and also won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. He’s made critically acclaimed films such as Happiness and his recent film, Life During Wartime.
Right before he directed Jaws, Steven Spielberg made The Sugarland Express which screened at New Directors/New Films in 1974. He’s had one of the most remarkable careers as a filmmaker and his newest film, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, is slated for a 2011 release.
Mexico’s Guillermo del Toro is one of today’s most ingenious directors with films like Cronos (New Directors/New Films 1992), Hellboy, and Pan’s Labryinth under his belt. He is slated to begin production on The Hobbit: Part 1 & 2 with Cate Blanchett for a 2011 release.
German filmmaker, Tom Tykwer, screened one of his early films, Deadly Maria, at the New Directors/New Films in 1995. He’s made many remarkable films such as Run Lola Run, The Princess & the Warrior, Heaven, and is working on a new film, Drei, for 2011 release.
While Bruce Weber is more well-known for his work as a leading fashion photographer, his 1988 documentary film Let’s Get Lost screened at New Directors/New Films and also garnered an Academy Award nomination that year. Recently, Weber created a short film for Yves Saint Laurent that has gone viral.
Since Wong Kar-wai’s 1990 film, Days of Being Wild, which was shown at New Directors/New Films, the Hong Kong director has become a world-renowned filmmaker. His most famous works include Chungking Express, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, and 2046. Wong is currently filming The Grand Master with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Ziyi Zhang.
