Director of Capote

Background:

American film director Bennett Miller was nominated for an Oscar for Best Directing for the acclaimed biopic “Capote” (2005), from which he also received a CFCA Award, two Gotham Awards, a NYFCC Award, a San Diego Film Critics Society Award, a Toronto Film Critics Association Award, in addition to a number of nominations. Miller made his directing debut with the little seen but much acclaimed documentary “The Cruise” (1998), which brought him two Berlin International Film Festival Awards, two Newport International Film Festival Awards and a Golden Satellite nomination. He also directed the 2011 film “Moneyball,” based on Michael Lewis' book of the same name. Miller has also directed television commercials and music videos.

NYC Native

Childhood and Family:

Bennett Miller was born on December 30, 1966, in New York City, New York. He met writer Dan Futterman in the library of Hommocks Middle School in Larchmont when both were 12. The two went on to attend Mamaroneck High School, where they took theater and participated in the school's Performing Arts Curriculum Experience program. At age 16, while attending summer theater camp in Saratoga Springs, they met Philip Seymour Hoffman. The threesome continued their friendship after camp although all went their separate ways. Bennett enrolled at the theater program at New York University, but later switched to film. He left NYU without a degree.

Moneyball

Career:

After taking various odd jobs and working on other people's films, Bennett Miller made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed feature length documentary “The Cruise” (1998), a portrait of Timothy “Speed” Levitch, an eccentric, quasi-homeless New York bus tour guide who would rather sleep on a friend's couch than pay rent. The film earned Miller the Don Quixote Award - Special Mention and the Wolfgang Staudte Award at the 1999 Berlin International Film Festival, the Audience Award for Best Documentary and Special Jury Award for Feature Competition at the 1998 Newport International Film Festival and a Golden Satellite nomination for Best Documentary Film. It was also nominated for an Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Documentary and an Eddie for Best Edited Documentary Film.

Following that, Miller had a profitable career as a comemrcial director for Hungry Man, in which he directed spots with leading advertising agencies across the country.

Miller returned to feature film directing with “Capote” (2005), a biographical film about Truman Capote, which was written by childhood friend Dan Futterman, based on the book of the same name by Gerald Clarke. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, another old friend of Miller, the film won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Hoffman's bright acting, in addition to another 46 wins and 44 nominations. Miller was nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievement in Directing for his work. He also received a CFCA Award for Most Promising Filmmaker, two Gotham Awards for Best Film and Breakthrough Director Award, a NYFCC Award for Best First Film, a San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Director, a Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best First Feature, BAFTA's David Lean Award nomination for Direction, a Golden Berlin Bear nomination at the Berlin International Film Festival, a Bodil nomination for Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film), a Chlotrudis nomination for Best Director, a DGA nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures, an OFCS nomination for Best Breakthrough Filmmaker, a Robert nomination for Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film)and a Satellite nomination for Outstanding Director. “Capote” grossed $49,233,161 against a budget of $7 million.

In 2011, Miller helmed the film adaptation of Michael Lewis' 2003 book, “Moneyball,” starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The film was released on September 23, 2011 to critical acclaim.

Miller has signed on to direct the upcoming drama film “Foxcatcher,” which is set to be released in 2013. The film will star Channing Tatum and Steve Carell.

Awards:

• Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA): Most Promising Filmmaker, “Capote,” 2006

• Gotham: Best Film, “Capote,” 2005

• Gotham: Breakthrough Director Award, “Capote,” 2005

• New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC): Best First Film, “Capote,” 2005

• San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS): Best Director, “Capote,” 2005

• Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA): Best First Feature, “Capote,” 2005

• Berlin International Film Festival: Don Quixote Award - Special Mention, “The Cruise,” 1999

• Berlin International Film Festival: Wolfgang Staudte Award, “The Cruise,” 1999

• Newport International Film Festival: Audience Award, Best Documentary, “The Cruise,” 1998

• Newport International Film Festival: Special Jury Award, Feature Competition, “The Cruise,” 1998