Derek Cianfrance

Derek Cianfrance attended the University of Colorado’s film school, where he studied under avant-garde film legends Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon. His first three student films each took the university’s top filmmaking prize, earning him the Special Dean’s Grant for Achievement in the Arts as well as the Independent Film Channel award for Excellence in Student Filmmaking.

He went on to direct, shoot, and edit (with Joey Curtis) his first feature, Brother Tied, at age 23. The film, which he wrote with Joey Curtis and Mike Tillman, made its American premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and received critical acclaim. The film screened at over 30 festivals worldwide, winning several honors including the Special Jury Prize for Bold Original Expression at the Florida Film Festival.

As director, Mr. Cianfrance ventured into extensive documentary work, including profiling such artists as Mos Def, Sean Combs, and Run-D.M.C.; exploring the ethos of Mixed-Martial Arts fighters, in Cagefighter; and riding with Vietnam veteran biker clubs for Rolling Thunder – Ride for Freedom. As director of photography, he followed Hispanic teens racing in Joey Curtis’ dramatic feature Streets of Legend for which he won the Excellence in Cinematography Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

He has directed numerous commercials and branded content, including the pioneering internet serial Meet the Lucky Ones, which was cited by Adweek as one of the Top Ten Ad Campaigns of 2004; the award-winning internet documentary Ford: Bold Moves, which Mr. Cianfrance co-directed with documentarians Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky; and spots for ESPN, Honda, the University of Phoenix, and Apple.

His second narrative feature as director, Blue Valentine, which he wrote with Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne, had its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams received Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for their performances, and Ms. Williams earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress.

Mr. Cianfrance is at work, with Sam Fussell, on an adaptation of the latter’s memoir Muscle as a potential series for HBO.