This image is the cover for the book Cult Filmmakers, Cult Figures

Cult Filmmakers, Cult Figures

Discover the iconic personalities behind cult classic films, from David Lynch and Roger Corman to Sofia Coppola, Gordon Parks, John Waters, and more.



Whether pioneering in their craft, fiercely unique, or critically divisive, cult filmmakers come in all shapes and guises. Some gain instant fame or notoriety while many others remain anonymous until a cultural shift propels their work into the limelight.

In Cult Filmmakers, Ian Haydn-Smith picks a selection of brilliant directors you should know—from industry heavyweights like Tim Burton and David Lynch, to brilliant but lesser-known auteurs such as Alejandro Jodorowsky and Ana Lily Amirpour. With biographical background and critical insight, you’ll discover the minds behind such beloved features as Melancholia, Easy Rider, Lost in Translation and more.

Featuring:Ana Lily AmirpourDarren AronofskyJohn CarpenterPark Chan-WookDavid Cronenberg Terry GilliamDennis HopperJim JarmuschHarmony KorineRuss MeyerGaspar NoeQuentin TarantinoMelvin van PeeblesLars von Trier, John WatersAnd many others

Ian Haydn Smith, Kristelle Rodeia

Ian Haydn Smith is a UK-based writer and editor. As a journalist he has written on film and the arts for numerous media outlets, both print and broadcast. From 2007 to 2012 he was editor of International Film Guide. He has spoken at film festivals and cultural events around the world, both as a critic and as a representative of the British Council. He has interviewed a variety of filmmakers and artists, including Ralph Fiennes, Clint Eastwood, Isabelle Huppert, Alan Bennett, Ang Lee, Agnès Varda, Terry Gilliam and Anton Corbijn. Recent publications include FilmQuake, Selling the Movie, and editing the updated edition of 1001 Movies to See Before You Die. He lives in London.

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