Alexander Payne
Birth Name:
Alexander Constantine Papadopoulos
Birth Place:
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Profession
Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack, Script department
Fast Facts
- Was honored by the American Cinema Editors in 2012 with the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award
- Doubled major in Spanish and History during his time at Stanford University
- Graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in Theater Arts from UCLA Film School
- Studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain and lived in Colombia as a part of his Spanish degree
- Directed his first feature film at 35 years old after graduating film school six years earlier
- Quote: "(On his films) "I want all of my films to belong to me․ There is an audience out there for literate films - slower, more observant, more human films, and they deserve to be made․""
- Quote: "(On his films) "My hope is that after 20 minutes, perhaps the audience forgets it is George Clooney or Jack Nicholson and just sees the character․""
- Quote: "(On the role of film) "One of cinema's greatest uses or values lies not just in its ability to capture reality, but to capture or suggest dream․""
- Quote: "(On value of films) "It's my hope that we're getting into an era where the value of a film is based on its proximity to real life rather than its distance from it․ To do that, you need actors - stars, basically․""
- Best known for directing the films "The Descendents" and "Sideways," both of which earned him Academy Awards for best Adapted Screenplay
- Known for depicting contemporary American society in a humorous and satirical light
- Known for exploring the loneliness and desire for individualism of his characters
- Will often set the films he directs around his birthplace of Omaha, Nebraska
- Grew up in the same neighborhood as billionaire Warren Buffett
- Has directed five different actors to receiving Oscar nominations
- Is the owner of the Winnebago that Jack Nicholson drives in "About Schmidt․"
- Serves on the Board of Directors at the non-profit arts organization Film Streams in Omaha, Nebraska
Awards
- 1996Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic:Nominated
- 1996Best ScreenplayWinner
- 1996Golden AlexanderNominated
- 1999ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999BSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999New Generation AwardWinner
- 1999NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 1999SDFCS Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 1999Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 1999Pilar Miró Award - Best New Director:Winner
- 2000Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:Nominated
- 2000Chlotrudis Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2000Independent Spirit Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2000Independent Spirit Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2000FFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2000Sierra Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2000NSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2000OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 2000OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2000SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2000WGA Award (Screen) - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:Winner
- 2001Stinker Award - Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More than $100 Million Using Hollywood Math:Nominated
- 2002Palme d'OrNominated
- 2002Golden Schmoes - Best Screenplay of the Year:Nominated
- 2002LAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2002NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2002NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003Discover Screenwriting AwardNominated
- 2003COFCA Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2003CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2003CFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003Critics Choice Award - Best Writer:Nominated
- 2003Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Winner
- 2003Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2003INOCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003IOMA - Best Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura):Nominated
- 2003NSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 2003OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003USC Scripter AwardNominated
- 2003WGA Award (Screen) - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2004ACCA - Best Director:Nominated
- 2004ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2004BSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2004BSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004CFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004Robert - Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2004FFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2004FFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004Gotham Independent Film Award - Best Feature:Winner
- 2004KCFCC Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2004LAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004LAFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2004Golden StarWinner
- 2004NBR Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2004NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004PFCS Award - Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium:Winner
- 2004SDFCS Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2004SFFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2004Seattle Film Critics Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2004SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2004SEFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2004SLFCA Award - Best Director - Comedy/Musical:Winner
- 2004SLFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2004UFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2004WAFCA Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2005Oscar - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
- 2005Oscar - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2005BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay - Adapted:Winner
- 2005COFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2005COFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2005Chlotrudis Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2005Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005Critics Choice Award - Best Writer:Winner
- 2005DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005DFWFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2005DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 2005Directors' Week Award - Special Prize of the Jury:Winner
- 2005Independent Spirit Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2005Independent Spirit Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2005Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2005Gold Derby Film Award - Director:Nominated
- 2005Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2005Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Winner
- 2005INOCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2005IFC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2005ALFS Award - Screenwriter of the Year:Nominated
- 2005ALFS Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2005NSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2005NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Winner
- 2005OFTA Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005OFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2005Director of the Year AwardWinner
- 2005Golden Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005Golden Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2005Comedy Film Honor - Best Director:Winner
- 2005USC Scripter AwardNominated
- 2005VFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005WGA Award (Screen) - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2006Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 2006Bodil - Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2006Un Certain Regard AwardNominated
- 2006Czech Lion - Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film):Nominated
- 2006Robert - Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film):Winner
- 2008Razzie Award - Worst Screenplay:Nominated
- 2010Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay of the Decade:Nominated
- 2011ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2011ACCA - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2011Best FilmNominated
- 2011CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011CFCA Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2011DFWFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2011DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2011FFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011Gotham Independent Film Award - Best Feature:Nominated
- 2011Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature:Winner
- 2011HFCS Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2011HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011IFJA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011LAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2011NBR Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2011NYFCO Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2011PFCS Award - Best Screenplay - Adaptation:Nominated
- 2011PFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011SDFCS Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2011Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2011Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011SLFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011SLFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011TFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2011UFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2011WAFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011WAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2012AACTA International Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012AACTA International Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2012Movies for Grownups Award - Best Screenwriter:Nominated
- 2012Oscar - Best Motion Picture of the Year:Nominated
- 2012Oscar - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
- 2012Oscar - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2012Award of the Argentinean Academy - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Nominated
- 2012EDA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012EDA Award - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2012EDA Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2012BAFTA Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2012BAFTA Film Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012COFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012Chlotrudis Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2012Cinema for Peace Award - Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year:Nominated
- 2012Critics Choice Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012DFCS Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2012DFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 2012Independent Spirit Award - Best Feature:Nominated
- 2012Independent Spirit Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012Independent Spirit Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2012GAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2012Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2012Humanitas Prize - Feature Film Category:Nominated
- 2012INOCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012IOFCP Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012IFC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2012ALFS Award - Screenwriter of the Year:Nominated
- 2012OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 2012OFTA Film Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2012OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012PGA Award - Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 2012USC Scripter AwardWinner
- 2012VFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012WGA Award (Screen) - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2013EDA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013Bodil - Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2013Palme d'OrNominated
- 2013Audience Choice AwardNominated
- 2013DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013Grammy - Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:Nominated
- 2013Art Cinema AwardNominated
- 2013HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013PFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013SLFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013FIPRESCI PrizeWinner
- 2013Best North American Independent FilmNominated
- 2014Oscar - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
- 2014Amanda - Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm):Nominated
- 2014American Comedy Award - Best Comedy Director - Film:Nominated
- 2014COFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Independent Spirit Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2014Guardian Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Audience AwardWinner
- 2014NCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014OFTA Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2015ASECAN Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2015Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera):Nominated
- 2015Bodil - Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2015CEC Award - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 2015Días de Cine Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2017Golden Lion - Best Film:Nominated
- 2023DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023IFJA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Audience Award - Fiction Feature:Winner
- 2023NTFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023People's Choice Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2024Movies for Grownups Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024Harold Lloyd AwardWinner
- 2024Astra Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024BAFTA Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024Windie - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film:Nominated
- 2024HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024ICFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024IFC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2024MCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024NDFS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024ACCRJ Award - Best Films of the Year (Melhores Filmes do Ano):Nominated
- 2024Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2025Bodil - Best English Language Film (Bedste engelsksprogede film):Nominated