Cinema's Young Whiz-Kids – Directors and Writers Who Skipped the 'Paying Dues' Phase
1/7/2025
While most filmmakers spend years perfecting their craft (and fetching coffee), some prodigies waltz into the scene, megaphone in hand, ready to call the shots. Let's tip our hats (and maybe roll our eyes a bit) at these youthful talents who made us all feel like underachievers.
Damien Chazelle
Notable Works: Whiplash (2014), La La Land (2016)
Achievements: At 32, Chazelle became the youngest person to snag the Academy Award for Best Director for La La Land. Apparently, he didn't get the memo about struggling in obscurity first.
Xavier Dolan
Notable Works: I Killed My Mother (2009), Mommy (2014)
Achievements: Dolan directed his first feature film, I Killed My Mother, at the tender age of 19. The film premiered at Cannes and scooped up three awards. Some kids get a car for their birthday; Dolan got international acclaim.
Ryan Coogler
Notable Works: Fruitvale Station (2013), Black Panther (2018)
Achievements: Coogler directed Fruitvale Station at 27, earning critical acclaim and a slew of awards. He then went on to direct Black Panther, which only became a global phenomenon and cultural milestone. No biggie.
Greta Gerwig
Notable Works: Lady Bird (2017), Little Women (2019)
Achievements: Gerwig's solo directorial debut, Lady Bird, received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Director. She became one of the few women ever nominated in that category, casually shattering glass ceilings while others were still figuring out how to open the door.
Adrian Antonsen
Notable Works: Escorted (2022)
Achievements: At 17, Norwegian director Antonsen released his short film Escorted, which premiered at Vega Scene in Oslo and bagged several international awards. While most teens were stressing over prom, Antonsen was busy collecting accolades.
Ella Greenwood
Notable Works: Faulty Roots (2020)
Achievements: Greenwood wrote, directed, and produced her first short film, Faulty Roots, at 18. The film screened at various festivals and is now being developed into a feature. Meanwhile, the rest of us were perfecting the art of procrastination.
These wunderkinds have shown that you don't need decades of experience to make a splash in the film industry. For the rest of us, there's always next year... or the year after that.