Top Sundance Directors

23 April 2014

Memento

The Sundance Film Festival has had an enormous impact on both the independent filmmaking landscape and the structure of Hollywood.

Over the past 35 years, it has provided a platform for writers, directors, and actors to be discovered without the need to navigate the studio system.

After receiving wide acceptance in London the past two years, Sundance is returning once more to bring the best independent film making to one of the top cultural hubs in the world.

To celebrate, we are taking a look at the seven most notable filmmakers (in no particular order) to make their mainstream debut at Sundance.

- Christopher Nolan- Memento (2001)

Now known for his captivating re-envisioning of the batman franchise, Christopher Nolan first caught the attention of critics with his mind-bending thriller Memento.

Debuting at Sundance in 2001, Memento tells the story of Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce), a man driven by the relentless desire to avenge his wife’s brutal murder. Told through a reverse-linear viewpoint, Memento challenges viewer’s perception of memory, and builds to a mind-bending conclusion.

The film marked the debut of one of the most influential filmmakers of the 21st century, and has been chosen as one of three ‘From the Collection’ Sundance classics to be screened this year at Sundance London.

- Darren Aronofsky- Pi (1998)

Director of the Oscar nominated Black Swan and the current blockbuster Noah, Aronofsky debuted his first feature film at the 1998 festival.

While the film had little box office success, it highlighted Aronofsky’s talent and turned him into one of the most in-demand directors in Hollywood.

Since then the director has gone on to mix abstract movies such as The Fountain, with more box office friendly projects such as the critically acclaimed The Wrestler.

The director has gone on to work with some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Natalie Portman, Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Russell Crowe and Mickey Rourke.

- David O. Russell- Spanking the Monkey (1994)

David O. Russell burst onto the Sundance scene with his incestuous coming of age story, Spanking the Monkey.

The film went on to win the audience award for best picture, and catapulted Russell’s career as a writer-director.

With three best director nominees in the past four years - The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle - Russell is one of the most successful directors to ever come out of the festival.

- Wes Anderson- Bottle Rocket (short 1993)

Perhaps the spokesman of hipster culture and independent filmmaking, Wes Anderson was first noticed for the short Bottle Rocket that he entered in the 1993 festival.

The short was a hit, and he was able to finance a full-length feature film by the same name.

Since then, Anderson has captivated his faithful audience with a series of recent hits including Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

- Steven Soderberg- Sex, Lies, & Videotape (1989)

The poster child for the nineties’ independent film revolution, Sex, Lies, & Videotape was a catalyst that helped morph Sundance into the top independent film festival in the world.

At its peak, the film won the Palme d’Or for best picture at Cannes and was nominated for Best Screen play at the Academy Awards, turning Soderberg into a household name in the process.

- Joel and Ethan Coen - Blood Simple (1985)

With 13 Oscar nominations and four wins, the Coen brothers are perhaps the most critically acclaimed directors on this list.

With Blood Simple, the brothers delivered their now iconic mix of existential comedy and film noir for the first time, and have held true to that vision to this day.

Now with countless hit after hit, including Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and True Grit, the Coen brothers are the original Sundance success story, and put the festival on the map.

- Quentin Tarantino- Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Tarantino’s path to stardom is perhaps the most peculiar out of any director on this list. As a high school dropout, Tarantino worked for several years as a movie store clerk.

Although he had no formal film training, his script for Reservoir Dogs was so unique that he was able to enlist the help of Harvey Keitel and independently produce the film.

While it came in second for the Grand Jury prize at the time, it is widely considered the most influential Sundance film of all time.

Alongside Memento and Winter’s Bone, it has been chosen to be screened at Sundance London as part of the ‘From the Collection’ exhibition.