5 Directors to Watch Out For
Rose Glass
I have previously mentioned that there are plenty of directors just getting started in the horror genre, namely Ari Aster, Jordan Peele, and Robert Eggers among others. I’ve decided to go with Rose Glass for this list, following her debut feature Saint Maud which opened this year to critical acclaim. What’s really eye-catching about Glass is the fact that she’s amazingly only 30 years old. For her to have already lured the eyes of critics, as well as Bong Joon-ho himself who included her in his own list of 20 directors to watch out for, is surely conducive to a very distinguished career. At any rate, it’s almost certain that the horror genre is bound to experience a new golden age imminently; some might even say it’s already begun.
Sam Esmail
With only one feature film to his name thus far, you probably know Sam Esmail best for his TV series, Mr. Robot, as well as helming the Prime Video show Homecoming. Those who are familiar with the former will know that it is perhaps the most underrated series ever, as well as one of the absolute best. Having directed a staggering 39 of the show’s 46 episodes, an achievement practically unheard of in the TV industry, Esmail showcased his full range of ability. He brought unmatched creativity to the small screen, including a silent episode, a seeming one-take episode à la Hitchcock’s Rope, and a five-act stage play. Since the show’s completion, he has been rumoured to have various features in the works, including a very secretive take on the Bermuda Triangle mystery.
Joe Penna
Brazilian director Joe Penna emerged in 2018 to positive critical attention with his survival film Arctic, featuring no less than Mads Mikkelsen who delivered a tour-de-force. The general consensus of the film seems to be that it’s competent, if not slightly lacking in certain areas. I’m perhaps in the minority as a staunch advocate of the film; I believe it to be a breath-taking, thoroughly captivating, and uplifting film about humanity’s greatest attributes. His upcoming collaboration with Netflix, Stowaways, will center around a mission to Mars gone awry. It will mark Penna’s entrance into sci-fi thriller territory with presumably a much larger budget than Arctic, and I have a feeling that maybe I’m slightly ahead of the curve when I say keep your eyes peeled.
Nora Twomey
Having co-directed the Oscar-nominated feature The Secret of Kells in 2011, Irish director Nora Twomey made her first feature as sole director in 2017 in the shape of The Breadwinner. The incredibly affecting film, centering on the tale of a brave young girl in Taliban-occupied Afghanistan, earnt her an Oscar nomination for best animated feature, as well as general and critical acclaim. Her swirling, stupefying animation unearths hidden beauty in a film that showcases depravity aplenty. 2021 should see Netflix release her second feature, My Father’s Dragon, which one would expect to gather a lot of attention.
Panos Cosmatos
Before his critically acclaimed and widely discussed Mandy released in 2018, Panos Cosmatos brought to life the far more enigmatic Beyond the Black Rainbow in 2010. The latter received a far colder reception, but was no less visceral or adventurous than the more accessible revenge thriller fronted by Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough. His style is distinct, and his passion for filmmaking is evident, with both films being love letters to 80s synthwave. Cosmatos is no doubt one of the most ambitious directors out there right now, and despite making just two features so far, there are hopefully many more to come.
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