Richard Linklater

The self-taught writer and director Richard Linklater was one of the first and most successful figures to emerge from the renaissance of American independent cinema in the 1990s. Linklater’s work explores what he has termed the ‘youth rebellion continuum’, depicting a 24-hour period in each film and delving into generational rituals and other aspects with rare empathy and understanding, down to the finest detail. At the same time, he impressively captures the culture of the twenty-somethings of his era through a series of nuanced, insightful ensemble pieces that have brought a number of talented young actors to Hollywood. His directing credits include the films Dazed and Confused, Tape, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Fast Food Nation and, most recently, A Scanner Darkly.