Support Upstate Films – Participate in our BEST LIVING DIRECTOR Contest
Almodovar or Weerasethakul? Campion or Spielberg? You decide!
Support Upstate Films’ GivingTuesday Campaign by voting in our “Best Living Director” contest! We’ll celebrate the winning director with a double feature party on New Year’s Day, with all supporters invited.
The Rules
Everyone who contributes $5 or more can vote. Supporters receive one vote for each donation made. The contest will continue through Sunday, December 18th, and we’ll announce the winning director on Monday, December 19th. The New Year’s Day program and schedule will be posted the following week.
How We Chose the 18 Finalists
The Upstate Films staff wrangled and pleaded and argued for hours to make the list, with this criteria: The director must have made three or more features and be actively making work that continues to inspire, break boundaries, or have an impact on our culture.
GivingTuesday is a global movement that unleashes “the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” Thank you for considering a gift to Upstate Films on GivingTuesday and beyond! We continue to be inspired by the generosity of our community and are deeply grateful for your support.
The Shortlist
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 73
Country of Origin: Spain
Top Films: All About My Mother, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, VolverABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 55
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, Grand Budapest Hotel, The French DispatchABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 60
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Top Films: Holy Smoke!, The Piano, Power of the DogABOUT THE DIRECTORS:
Joel and Ethan Coen
Ages: 68/65
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: No Country for Old Men, Fargo, A Serious ManABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 61
Country of Origin: Mexico
Top Films: Y tu Mamá También, Gravity, RomaABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 67
Country of Origin: U.K.
Top Films: Century of the Self, Power of Nightmares, HypernormalizationABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 76
Country of Origin: France
Top Films: Chocolat, Beau Travail, 35 Shots of RumABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 69
Country of Origin: Mexico
Top Films: Amores Perros, Revenant, BirdmanABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 53
Country of Origin: South Korea
Top Films: The Host, Mother, ParasiteABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 60
Country of Origin: Japan
Top Films: Shoplifters, After Life, Nobody KnowsABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 49
Country of Origin: Greece
Top Films: The Lobster, Dogtooth, The FavouriteABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 53
Country of Origin: U.K.
Top Films: Hunger, 12 Years a Slave, ShameABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 82
Country of Origin: Japan
Top Films: My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving CastleABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 43
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: Get Out, Us, NopeABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 52
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: Citizenfour, The Oath, All the Beauty and BloodshedABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 80
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi DriverABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 76
Country of Origin: U.S.
Top Films: E.T., The Fabelmans, Schindler’s ListABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Age: 52
Country of Origin: Thailand
Top Films: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Cemetery of Splendor, Memoria
