Is cinema dying? For film fanatics, this question serves as a constant undercurrent through every new screening, box office data release, and movie review. Lately, with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023, global cinema appeared to be cast somewhat into disarray. As large cinema chains declare losses and straight-to-streaming releases become increasingly popular, the future of filmmaking appears more abstract by the day. However, emerging directors continue to bring fresh perspectives and innovations, offering hope for the evolution of the cinematic landscape.
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Yet, amidst all of this chatter, often downplayed is the budding, fresh talent that brings hope to the conversation. In this article I explore ten breakout directors who should have us at the edge of our movie seats, eager to see what they can bring to audiences and to cinema at large.
1, Aaron Schimberg
Aaron Schimberg is one to watch on the dawn of his third-ever feature film hitting the screens in September 2024. Riffing on a previous film of his – Chained for Life (2018) – Schimberg’s upcoming ‘A Different Man’ (2024) features the likes of Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve through a psychological thriller crossed with black comedy. The film follows aspiring actor Edward as he undergoes surgery for his neurofibromatosis, and how he contends with the aftermath in terms of losses in his acting career and love life.
Investigating notions of the self, appearance, and obsession, Schimberg’s works suit those that enjoy a movie that picks apart big ideas. From its premiere at Sundance, the movie has already gained a great amount of buzz, with Stan already receiving the Berlin Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance and Schimberg winning the Palm Springs ‘Directors to Watch’ Award.
2. Katharina Huber
Katharina Huber’s ‘A Good Place’ (2023) rapidly gained traction among cinephiles following its debut at Locarno Film Festival. Blending science fiction with the cinema of the mundane, we follow best friends Güte (Clara Schwinning) and Margarita (Céline De Gennaro) around a remote farming village, contending with the decaying world around them, threats of illness, and both personal and widespread uncertainty. The movie has a slow and sombre tone, yet its stakes feel high enough to keep the audience intrigued at every moment.
Despite being Huber’s first feature, critics have praised Huber’s directorial prowess for striking a tone of pleasant contradictions and bringing a compelling sensory experience to audiences. With such high praise Huber’s win for ‘Best Emerging Director’ at Locarno came as little surprise, and makes Huber one to watch.
3. André Novais Oliveira
André Novais Oliveira needed only 71 minutes to warm the hearts of audiences with a simple yet touching storyline in ‘The Day I Met You’ (2023). Reminiscent of Linklater’s Before Trilogy or, more recently, Celine Song’s Past Lives (2023), Oliveira delivers a heartwarming tale focused on an encounter between Zeca (Renato Novaes) and Luisa (Grace Passô) at a turning point in both of their lives. Probing the mundanity of life, mental health, and what we mean to one another, Oliveira offers hope and joy on the big screen.
4. Titus Kaphar
After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Titus Kaphar’s ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ (2024) firmly cemented him as a budding directorial talent. A tightly focused family drama featuring André Holland at his best, Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024) follows painter Tarrell as he reflects on the family traumas of his past and what they mean for his present and his future as a father.
Blending his artistic background with a clear proficiency in juggling the movie parts of the film format, Kaphar offers a beautiful visual experience alongside a profound emotional investigation into the possibility or lack thereof of resolving familial conflict. Whilst new to directing, Kaphar brings his wealth of artistic experience to the screen and formulates his style as a director – one which begs the question of what else he might create, making him an exciting director to watch.
5. Blitz Bazawule
Blitz Bazawule is a name many more audiences are familiar with after his recent mainstream success with the musical film adaptation ‘The Color Purple’ (2023) last year. While largely considered snubbed at the Academy Awards, Bazawule received nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, Black Reel Awards, and a win at the NAACP Image Awards. Audiences and critics took to Bazawule’s style and flair, anticipating what else he might direct.
Just recently, Bazawule announced he’d be directing the upcoming ‘Black Samurai’ movie which tells the story of iconic African warrior Yasuke. Those who enjoyed the striking visuals and attentiveness to the narrative with which Bazawule approached his first major studio film should keep their eyes peeled for how Black Samurai unfolds under Bazawule’s direction.
6. India Donaldson
First-time feature director India Donaldson has taken film circles by storm with the masterful direction displayed in her debut project. ‘Good One’ (2024) follows Lily Collias as Sam on a backpacking trip with her father and his best friend, as she navigates the twists of the relationships between the trio, her own queer identity, and her adolescent sense of self.
Donaldson delivers a masterclass in spotlighting subtext, toying with the expectations and assumptions of the audience, and using a somewhat simple story to deconstruct the most complex of ideas. Donaldson is one to watch, particularly for fans of the minimal, understated, yet heavy-hitting movie genre, similar to Aftersun (2022) or Scrapper (2023) in recent years.
7 & 8. Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie (Separately!)
Perhaps a cheat on the notion of ‘emerging’ directors, following the Safdie Brothers announcing their choice to split on upcoming projects, one certainly could suggest each one is somewhat emerging as solo directors for the first time. Whilst the Safdie Brothers are known together for their eccentric, stylistic, and wildly entertaining directorial style, best known in Uncut Gems (2019) and Heaven Knows What (2014), what is in their future as individual directors is one to watch.
Josh Safdie recently announced his upcoming project ‘Marty Supreme’ starring Timothee Chalamet in collaboration with A24, inspired by the life of American ping-pong icon Marty Reisman. One could easily imagine the energy of previous Safdie projects effectively equipped with such a story and Chalamet as a star.
Benny Safdie meanwhile is hard at work on ‘The Smashing Machine’ featuring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the tale of MMA’s Mark Kerr, again in collaboration with A24. Having just wrapped shooting in early July, anticipation to see how Benny fuses his new solo directorial freedom with his self-penned script is growing. Seemingly inspired by the documentary of the same name, those who are eager to see what kind of Safdie twist Benny may put on the story, as well as how he uses the likes of Johnson and Blunt should keep an eye out for when ‘The Smashing Machine’ arrives on the big screen.
9. Koya Kamura
Koya Kamura’s ‘Winter in Sokcho’ (2024) is much anticipated by fans of Elisa Shua Dusapin’s book from which the film is adapted. As in the novel, the film follows a young Korean woman after a French comic artist arrives at the Sokcho guesthouse where she works, and what becomes of them both amidst their circumstances. It prompts questions on the meaning of cultural belonging, internal reflection on the self, and the possibilities and pitfalls of opening oneself up to being vulnerable.
Kamura’s previous film ‘Homesick’ (2019) was the winner of the Côte Court Audience Award, enjoyed by audiences for its haunting telling of the story of a father and son making their way through post-Fukushima Japan. Fans of Dusapin’s book are eager to see how Kamura might employ his firm grasp on tone and atmosphere to serve Winter in Sokcho’s narrative.
10. Rose Glass
With the recent success of ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ (2024) featuring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian, Rose Glass showcased an ability to riff on centuries of horror and thriller cinema whilst bringing a fresh new twist of her own. The A24 romantic thriller followed Jackie and Lou’s love story as it comes head-to-head with the violence of Lou’s own family.
Love and horror are seamlessly blended in Glass’ approach to direction which naturally begs the question of what else Glass might be capable of. Crystal clear in Glass’ direction is her love of cinema, evident through homage and reference points, yet her weird and wacky narratives keep audiences guessing and leave us to wonder what future projects Glass might turn into.
So whilst alarmism about cinema’s future becomes increasingly inescapable, it is worth advocating for those fresh talents and bold ventures made by creatives in the film industry. Artists choosing to dabble in experimental styles or iterate on classic cinematic tropes not only honour the centuries of movie-making before them but indicate a drive to continue to innovate the art form, bringing hope for an even brighter future.
Whether it’s veterans like the Safdie’s embarking on new solo journeys or first-feature directors like Donaldson, these exciting emerging directors are not just rousing audiences but revitalizing the soul of filmmaking.
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