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Richard Linklater Biography

Birth Name:Richard Stuart Linklater

Birth Place:Houston, Texas, United States

Profession Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Camera department, Cinematographer

Fast Facts

  • Founded the Austin Film Society in 1985, thus helping establish the city as a new hub for independent filmmaking
  • In 2007, he was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame located in Austin, Texas
  • Purchased his first film equipment in his early 20s which included a Super 8 camera, film projector and editing equipment
  • Quote: "(On his inspiration, "Raging Bull") "It made me see movies as a potential outlet for what I was thinking about and hoping to express․ At that point, I was an uninformed artist․ At that moment, something was simmering in me, but 'Raging Bull' brought it to a boil․""
  • Created Detour Filmproduction after establishing himself in Austin and would subsequently begin creating his first feature films to be widely released
  • Following success from his second feature, 1993's "Dazed and Confused", he would continue to make independent, low budget films from Austin, refusing to move to Hollywood
  • Often known for being a voice of Generation X, he is actually of the 'baby boomer' generation
  • Often known for making films that take place within a single day somewhere in Texas

Awards

  • 1991Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic: nominated
  • 1992Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1992Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 1993ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1993Golden Leopard-: nominated
  • 1995ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1995ACCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 1995Silver Berlin Bear-Best Director: winner
  • 1995Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 1996CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2001'CinemAvvenire' Award-Best Film: winner
  • 2001Laterna Magica Prize - Special Mention-: winner
  • 2001Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2002Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2002Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2002Daring Digital Award-Digital Spectrum: nominated
  • 2002OIAF Award-Best Animated Feature Film: winner
  • 2003Special Mention-Documentary Short: winner
  • 2004Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 2004Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2004VVFP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2004VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera en Idioma no Español): nominated
  • 2005Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2005Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005Girona Film Critics Award-Best Picture: winner
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005ICS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
  • 2005OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2006Un Certain Regard Award-: nominated
  • 2006Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 2006ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2007Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2007Chlotrudis Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2007Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: nominated
  • 2007INOCA-Best Animated Feature: winner
  • 2009Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2012Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2012Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2012Lone Star States-Louis Black Lone Star Award: winner
  • 2013Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2013ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013BOFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013DFCC-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013DFCC-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2013Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2013Hollywood Film Award-Screenwriter of the Year: winner
  • 2013HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2013ICP Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013ICP Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013Halfway Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013Halfway Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013Audience Award-Festival Favorites: nominated
  • 2013SDFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2013SFFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2013Screenplay Competition-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2013Texas Film Hall of Fame-Star of Texas Award: winner
  • 2013TFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original: nominated
  • 2013UFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2013VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: winner
  • 2014Abraccine Award-Best International Feature Film (Melhor Longa Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2014Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera): nominated
  • 2014AFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2014ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014ACCA-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost"-: winner
  • 2014Silver Berlin Bear-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 2014Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas-: winner
  • 2014Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2014BSFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2014COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014CFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014CFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2014Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2014DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2014DFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014DFCC-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 2014Lost Weekend Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Film Comment's Year-End Critics' Poll-Best Film: winner
  • 2014Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014FFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014Girona Film Critics Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Golden Schmoes-Best Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2014Audience Award-: winner
  • 2014Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2014IFJA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014IFJA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014ICP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2014KCFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014People's Choice Award-Best Narrative Feature: winner
  • 2014Writer/Director Award-: winner
  • 2014NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2014NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014NYFCO Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014NCFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Norwegian Film Critics Award-: winner
  • 2014OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2014OFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014OFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014PCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2014PCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014PFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014PFCS Award-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2014Audience Award-Festival Favorites: nominated
  • 2014Louis Black/Lone Star Award-: winner
  • 2014SDFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014SDFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2014SFFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2014SFFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014FIPRESCI Film of the Year-: winner
  • 2014Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2014Screenplay Competition-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
  • 2014Golden Space Needle Award-Best Film: winner
  • 2014Golden Space Needle Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014SEFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2014SLFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014Sydney Film Prize-Best Film: nominated
  • 2014TFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014VVFP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014WAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2014WAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2014WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015AACTA International Award-Best Direction: nominated
  • 2015AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015AACTA International Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2015Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015ASECAN Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 2015Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2015Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 2015EDA Award-Best Picture: winner
  • 2015EDA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015EDA Award-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera): nominated
  • 2015BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: winner
  • 2015David Lean Award for Direction-: winner
  • 2015BAFTA Film Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): winner
  • 2015COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015CinEuphoria-Best Director - International Competition: nominated
  • 2015CinEuphoria-Best Film - International Competition: nominated
  • 2015CinEuphoria-Top Ten of the Year - International Competition: winner
  • 2015Cinema Bloggers Award-Best Screenplay - International Competition: nominated
  • 2015Cinema Bloggers Award-Best Director - International Competition: winner
  • 2015Cinema Bloggers Award-Best North American Film: nominated
  • 2015Cinema Brazil Grand Prize-Best Foreign-Language Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): nominated
  • 2015Audience Award-Best Foreign-Language Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2015Heterodox Award-: winner
  • 2015CEC Award-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): nominated
  • 2015Critics Choice Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Critics Choice Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015CCOP-Best Original Screenplay (Melhor Argumento Original): nominated
  • 2015CCOP-Best Director (Melhor Realizador): nominated
  • 2015CCOP-Best Film (Melhor Filme): nominated
  • 2015César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
  • 2015Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): winner
  • 2015David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
  • 2015DFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015DFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 2015Dorian Award-Film Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2015Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 2015Empire Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2015Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
  • 2015GAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015GAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015Girona Film Critics Award-Best Picture: winner
  • 2015Gold Derby Film Award-Director: winner
  • 2015Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: winner
  • 2015Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2015Guldbagge-Best Foreign Film (Bästa utländska film): nominated
  • 2015HFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2015ICS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015ICS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015INOCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015IOFCP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015IOFCP Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015IFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015IOMA-Best Original Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura originale): nominated
  • 2015ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
  • 2015ALFS Award-Director of the Year: winner
  • 2015NSFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015NCFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015NCFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015NTFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015OFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Film Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2015Sonny Bono Visionary Award-: winner
  • 2015Audience Award-Best Foreign Director (Melhor Diretor Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2015Critics Award-Best Foreign Director (Melhor Diretor Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2015Critics Award-Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2015Outstanding Director of the Year Award-: winner
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2015Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2015Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2015VFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2015VFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2016Halfway Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Halfway Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017People's Choice Award-Gala-Best Film: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: nominated
  • 2017Audience Award-Narrative Feature: winner
  • 2018Austin Film Award-: nominated
  • 2020Austin Film Award-: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture of the Decade: nominated
  • 2022Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2022Audience Award-Headliners: nominated
  • 2023Windie-Best Animated Film: nominated
  • 2023Gold Derby Film Award-Animated Feature: nominated
  • 2023ICS Award-Best Animated Film: nominated
  • 2023NDFS Award-Best Animated Feature: nominated
  • 2024Astra Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2024Astra Midseason Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2024GWNYFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2025Austin Film Award-: nominated
  • 2025Austin Film Award-: nominated
  • 2025Austin Film Award-: winner
  • 2025Golden Berlin Bear-Best Film: nominated
  • 2025Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2025Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 2025Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Anthology Series: nominated
  • 2025Albar-Best Film: nominated
  • 2025Indiana Film Journalists Association Award-: winner
  • 2025Best Film Award-Official Competition: nominated
  • 2025Audience Award-International Feature Film: winner
  • 2025ARRI/OSRAM Award-Best International Film: nominated
  • 2025City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2025WGA Award (Screen)-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2026César-Best Director (Meilleure réalisation): winner
  • 2026César-Best Film (Meilleur film): nominated
  • 2026Lumiere Award-Best Film (Meilleur film): nominated
  • 2026Lumiere Award-Best Director (Meilleure mise en scène): winner
  • 2026NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated