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Rian Johnson Biography

Birth Name:Rian Craig Johnson

Birth Place:Maryland, United States

Profession Director, Writer, Producer, Actor, Editor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Was nominated for Best Director at the 2018 Empire Awards
  • Graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in production in 1996
  • Was inspired to become a filmmaker after seeing the film "Annie Hall․"
  • Gained overnight success following the release of his film "Brick․"
  • Well known for directing "Star Wars" films
  • Possesses the ability to play the banjo
  • The first film he saw was "Return of the Jedi․"

Awards

  • 2005Grand Special Prize-: nominated
  • 2005Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic: nominated
  • 2005Special Jury Prize-Dramatic: winner
  • 2006CFCA Award-Most Promising Director: winner
  • 2006'New Blood' Award-: winner
  • 2006John Cassavetes Award-: nominated
  • 2006Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2006ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2006ICP Award-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2006SFFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2006Best Film-: nominated
  • 2006Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation-: winner
  • 2006TFCA Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2006UFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2007AFCA Award-Best First Film: winner
  • 2007COFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Original: winner
  • 2007Empire Award-Best Male Newcomer: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best First Screenplay: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2007OFCS Award-Best Breakthrough Filmmaker: nominated
  • 2008Bronze Horse-: nominated
  • 2010INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012AFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2012ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012CFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012FFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2012Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2012ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012Sierra Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2012NBR Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Rondo Statuette-Best Film: nominated
  • 2012UFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2012WAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2013ASECAN Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 2013Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013COFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013Critics Choice Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series: winner
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Directing for a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013NCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013NCFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2013OFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013Bradbury Award-: nominated
  • 2013WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Directing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017Honorable Mentions (The Next Ten Best Picture Contenders)-Honorable Mentions: winner
  • 2018Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018Saturn Award-Best Writing: winner
  • 2018DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018Empire Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2018Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: nominated
  • 2018Bradbury Award-Outstanding Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 2019CFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019DFCC-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Decade: winner
  • 2019Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2019ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019ICP Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019KCFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2019Odyssey Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2019Odyssey Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019OFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2019OAFFC Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019PFCC Award-Best Script: winner
  • 2019Audience Award-Best Feature: winner
  • 2019PCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2019PFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2019SDFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019SFBAFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019UFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019VHS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019WAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Oscar-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020EDA Award-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020AFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Original): nominated
  • 2020BOFA-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020CIC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2020CIC Award-Best Studio Film: winner
  • 2020COFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020DFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2020Dorian Award-Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2020GAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020HCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2020Huading Award-Best Global Writing for a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2020LEJA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020MCFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020NCFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2020OFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2020WGA Award (Screen)-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022Capri Adapted Screenplay Award-: winner
  • 2022CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022Audience Choice Award-Feature Film: winner
  • 2022DFCC-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022GWNYFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2022IFJA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2022IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022Variety Collaborators Award-: winner
  • 2022OAFFC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022PFCC Award-Best Script: nominated
  • 2022SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022People's Choice Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2022VHS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2022WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2023AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Oscar-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023AAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2023EDA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023AFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2023Windie-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Windie-Best Studio Film: nominated
  • 2023COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023CACF Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023DFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2023Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2023Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2023HFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023HCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023KCFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023LEJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023MNFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023NCFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023OFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2023OFTA Film Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2023PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2023PCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2023SFBAFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2023SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023WGA Award (Screen)-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2023Yoga Award-Worst Foreign Film: winner
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Writing in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Directing in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Edgar-Best Episode in a TV Series: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024WGA Award (TV)-New Series: nominated
  • 2025CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2025IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2025KCFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2025SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2025People's Choice Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2026COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2026MNFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2026PFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated