BY DIRECTOR: G

Born in Rome in 1968, son of a theatre critic and a photographer, Matteo Garrone graduated from the Art Lyceum in 1986, dedicating his free time to painting. Received his first recognition in 1996 winning the Sacher d’Oro, award sponsored by Nanni Moretti (‘Mia Madre’, ‘The Son’s Room’), and eventually became a two-time winner of the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival with ‘Gomorrah’ in 2008 and ‘Reality’ in 2012. Known for always working as a camera operator for his own movies, hand-held camera being his trademark, he was a member of the jury at 2012’s edition of the Venice Film Festival.

Alex Gibney was born in 1953 in New York. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University before studying film at the University of California. His most notable work is the Oscar-winning documentary 'Taxi to the Dark Side' (2008), an in-depth examination of the torture practices by the United States in the Middle-East. His other films include 'Enron' (2005) and 'The Armstrong Lie' (2013).

Jean-Luc Godard was born in 1930 in Paris. During his student years at the Sorbonne, he met Claude Chabrol, François Truffaut and Jacques Rivette, a group of young filmmakers and critics, and started writing for the legendary film magazine, Cahiers du Cinéma. 'A bout de souffle' (1959) was his first feature, a highly original, spontaneous film shot on a shoe-string, which would later be one of the defining films of the French New Wave.

Born in 1963 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is best known for 'Winter's Bone' (2010) starring John Hawkes and Jennifer Lawrence who were both nominated for an Oscar for their performances. Other titles by Granik include 'Down to the Bone' (2004) and 'Snake Feed' (1997).

David Gordon Green was born in 1975 in Arkansas. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied film. By 23, David had written and directed his first feature film 'George Washington' (2000), which was selected for the New York Film Festival, won the New York Film Critics' Prize and went on to win major festival awards internationally. His first major feature was 'Pineapple Express' (2008) starring James Franco.

Gianni Di Gregorio was born Trastevere, Rome, where he still lives and works. Originally enrolling at university to study modern literature, Gianni left before graduation to attend the Academy of Performing Arts in Rome. After three years of theatre, he decided to begin working in film as an assistant director, before moving into screenwriting. His is best known for 'The Salf of Life' (2008), which he made at the age of 60.

Alain Guiraudie was born in 1964 into a farming family, and it is perhaps due to this rural upbringing that his style possesses a naturalistic tone. He directed his first feature film, 'That Old Dream That Moves' in 2001, which was presented in Cannes with Jean-Luc Godard praising it as the 'best film at festival.' 'Stranger By the Lake' premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival to wide critical acclaim, winning two awards.