Philip Kaufman

Philip Kaufman (born October 23, 1936) is an acclaimed American film director and screenwriter having directed fifteen films over a career spanning nearly five decades. He has garnered numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award along with nominations for an Academy Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. He stands out as a maverick and an iconoclast in the industry, notable for his versatility and independence. Kaufman has directed eclectic and controversial films throughout his career and is considered an auteur. His diverse works have traversed genres such as realism, horror, fantasy, erotica, western, and crime. His most notable films include 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' (1988) which won him a BAFTA Award, 'The Wanderers' (1979), 'Rising Sun' (1993), 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1978), 'Henry & June' (1990), and 'Quills' (2000). Kaufman was born in Chicago in 1936 and developed an early love of movies. He attended the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School. He received critical acclaim for directing the HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012). His influences include his extensive travels and experiences in Europe and relationships with influential people such as writer Henry Miller and author Anaïs Nin. His personal vision and unique perspective have always played a vital role in his filmmaking process.