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Robert Zemeckis Biography

Birth Name:Robert Lee Zemeckis

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Actor

Fast Facts

Received a Student Academy Award at the University of Southern California for his student film "A Field of Honor․"
Received the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award from the American Cinema Editors in 2001
First became interested in filmmaking after seeing 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and being moved by the death of Gene Hackman's character
Started making films in high school when he would capture family events on his parents' 8 mm film camera
Quote: "From where I sit I see the digital cinema creating sloppiness on the part of filmmakers because they know if they really get in trouble, they can fix it later․"
Quote: "[on "Cast Away"] "The story is not so much about the survival of a human being, but rather the survival of the human spirit and an illustration of the idea that surviving is easy, it's living that's difficult․""
Often collaborates with Steven Spielberg, who served as his mentor and produced his first six films
Best known as the director of the "Back to the Future" trilogy, "Cast Away" and "Forrest Gump․"
Is a trained pilot with more than 1,600 hours of flight time, which influenced his 2012 film "Flight․"
Originally developed "Cocoon," but was fired by studio executives one year into the project

Awards

1985Jupiter Award-Best International Film: nominated
1985Young Venice Award - Special Mention-: winner
1986Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1986Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1986BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1986BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
1986David-Best Foreign Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura Straniera): winner
1986Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1986Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: winner
1986Jupiter Award-Best International Film: winner
1986WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1988Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1988Special Award-: winner
1988Children and Cinema Award - Special Mention-: winner
1989CFCA Award-Best Director: winner
1989César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
1989DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1989Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: winner
1989Jupiter Award-Best International Film: winner
1989Rosa de Sant Jordi Audience Award-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
1990Saturn Award-Best Director: winner
1990Jupiter Award-Best International Film: nominated
1991Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1991Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
1993Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1993CableACE-Dramatic Series: nominated
1994ACCA-Best Director: nominated
1994CableACE-Dramatic Series: nominated
1995Oscar-Best Director: winner
1995Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1995Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): winner
1995BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1995David Lean Award for Direction-: nominated
1995CableACE-Dramatic Series: nominated
1995CableACE-Directing a Dramatic Special or Series: nominated
1995CableACE-Dramatic Series: nominated
1995CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
1995Czech Lion-Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film): winner
1995DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
1995David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
1995DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1995Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1995Guldbagge-Best Foreign Film (Bästa utländska film): nominated
1996CINE Golden Eagle-Broadcast Division: Entertainment - Drama: winner
1996Golden Rooster-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show: nominated
1998Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1998Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: winner
1998OFTA Film Award-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Picture: winner
2000Sierra Award-Best Director: nominated
2001Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
2001CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2001Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
2001Yoga Award-Worst Foreign Film: winner
2003DVD Premiere Award-Best Audio Commentary, Library Release: nominated
2005BAFTA Children's Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
2005INOCA-Best Animated Feature: nominated
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Animated Picture: nominated
2007Rondo Statuette-Best Movie: nominated
2012Founder's Award-: winner
2013Black Reel-Best Film: nominated
2013Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema-: nominated
2013Director of the Year Award-: winner
2023PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures: nominated
2023Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
2023Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
2025Golden Rooster-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated