Iain Softley

Iain Declan Softley, born on 30th November 1956, is an accomplished English film director, producer, and screenwriter who made his mark in the entertainment industry with numerous notable films and TV adaptations. Softley's work had its beginning in music videos and theatre, as he directed several highly-praised theatrical productions at Queens' College, Cambridge. His varied career extended to television, where he spent time working with both Granada TV and the BBC in the 80s. His directorial debut in the film industry was the Stuart Sutcliffe biopic, Backbeat, which he wrote and directed. This film opened the Sundance Film Festival and received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best British Film. He was honored with the Best Newcomer Awards from The London Film Critics Circle and Empire Magazine for his work on the film.

Softley's career took a wide range, from adaptations of revered novels to cyber thrillers like Hackers, starring Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee-Miller. His adaptation of Henry James' novel, The Wings of the Dove, received four Academy Award nominations and won several awards including two BAFTAs. Softley's versatility as a director is evident from his work in sci-fi mystery films like K-PAX to suspense thrillers like The Skeleton Key. He directed films like Inkheart and Trap for Cinderella. Softley has also shown prowess in television directing, however, his contributions aren't confined to just film and television. He directed a stage adaptation of Backbeat co-written with Stephen Jeffreys. Aside from his film and television work, Softley along with his wife, film producer Sarah Curtis, run Forthcoming Films which produces and develops their respective projects.