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Film directors From Brief Encounter to Trainspotting, British directors have made some of the world’s most cherished films. Ed Colley profiles the UK's greatest film-making talents |
| Up-and-coming film-makers | |
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Christopher Nolan Born 30 July 1970, London Educated Nolan studied English Literature at University College London How did they get into movies? Nolan began making 16mm films in his spare time at college, borrowing equipment from the film department Breakthrough film His first film, 1998’s Following, received various nominations, but it was his second, Memento, that brought him to the attention of cinema audiences |
| Most recent film With the critically acclaimed Memento and Insomnia under his belt,
Nolan has been handed the reins of the hugely anticipated Batman Begins What is so special? Memento wowed audiences with a plot that engages on an intellectual level. Batman fans are hoping that Nolan will bring his intelligence to bare on a franchise that has suffered from its fair share of dumbing down. |
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Sam Mendes Born 1 August 1965, Reading Educated Mendes studied English at Cambridge University How did they get into movies? Mendes joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992, then became artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, directing Nicole Kidman in The Blue Room and winning a Tony award for Cabaret. This helped him win over Steven Spielberg, who handed him the script for what would be his breakthrough film Breakthrough film American Beauty, 1999 |
| Most recent film Mendes hopes to bring Sweeney Todd to cinema screens What is so special? Mendes is classed as an emerging director as he has only made two feature films (American Beauty and Road to Perdition).Yet these films alone have caused him to be feted as one of the most talented directors working in Hollywood. |
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Gurinder Chadha Born Kenya, but settled in Southall,West London in 1961 Educated Chadha studied Development Studies at the University of East Anglia and then journalism at the London College of Printing How did they get into movies? Journalism prepared her for radio,which in turn allowed her to move into documentaries for BBC and Channel 4, which finally led to feature films Breakthrough film 1993 comedy-drama Bhaji on the Beach |
| Most recent film Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood spin on Jane Austen’s classic novel,
Pride and Prejudice What is so special? Chadha’s second feature, Bend it like Beckham, was not only a very funny and positive film, but it also rode the crest of a wave of a British obsession with Bollywood, and as such was more successful than anyone could have predicted. |
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Lynne Ramsay Born 5 December 1969, Glasgow Educated Ramsay studied photography at Napier University, Edinburgh and then cinematography and direction at the National Film and Television School How did they get into movies? Ramsay’s graduation film, Small Deaths, won the Prix du Jury at Cannes in 1996 Breakthrough film Ratcatcher won the 2000 BAFTA Award for a newcomer in British film |
| Most recent film Ramsay is in pre-production with the film adaptation of Alice Sebold’s
best-seller, The Lovely Bones, which is narrated by a 14-year-old girl in heaven What is so special? Ramsay’s talent has given her the reins of a large and commerciallyviable project after directing only two films, which although critically well-received did not do particularly good business at the box office. |
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