Darren Aronofsky - Biography

Writer/Director
Date of birth:12 February 1969
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Darren Aronofsky made his feature film directorial debut with the acclaimed independent feature “π,” which he also co-wrote.  The film brought him several honors, including the Director’s Award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.  His second film, the critically acclaimed “Requiem for a Dream,” premiered at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival and captivated both critics and audiences.  Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans, the film went on to earn five Independent Spirit Award nominations, including one for Best Feature and one for Aronofsky for Best Director.  The accolades continued with “Requiem for a Dream” being named on more than 150 Top-Ten Lists for 2000, including those of The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and the American Film Institute.  For her work in the film, Burstyn won the Spirit Award for Best Actress and earned Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. 

In 1996, Aronofsky and producing partner Eric Watson formed the production company Protozoa Pictures to develop future projects. Protozoa subsequently launched Amoeba Proteus to develop animated feature films.

Born in Brooklyn, Aronofsky graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School and went on to study live action and animation at Harvard University.  His senior thesis film, “Supermarket Sweep,” won international awards and was a national finalist in the 1991 Student Academy Awards.  In 1994, he received an M.F.A. in Directing from the American Film Institute.  AFI again honored Aronofsky in 2001 with the prestigious Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.

Filmography

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2008 Lone Wolf and Cub of Darren Aronofsky
2007 Flicker of Darren Aronofsky
2006 The Fountain of Darren Aronofsky
2000 Requiem for a Dream of Darren Aronofsky
1998 Pi of Darren Aronofsky
1993 Protozoa of Darren Aronofsky
1991 Supermarket Sweep of Darren Aronofsky