Sidney Lumet
Birth Name:
Sidney Lumet
Birth Place:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Profession
Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Casting director
Fast Facts
- Received an honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005, but never won an individual Academy Award
- Worked with Human Rights First on a media project about the depiction of torture and interrogation on television, inspiring the organization to name its award for Integrity in Entertainment after him
- Started his career on stage, film and radio when he was a child, but was interrupted by World War II, during which he spent three years in the U․S․ Army as a radar repairman in India and Burma
- Quote: "While the goal of all movies is to entertain, the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further․ It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience․ It stimulates thought and sets the mental juices flowing․"
- Known for his excellent direction of actors, his abilities as a storyteller and the realism of his films, which often explored social issues
- Most of his films were shot in New York, often taking place over short periods of time in confined locations, and were driven by dialogue rather than over-the-top action
- Continued to shoot his series "100 Centre Street" in New York after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on September 11, but did offer his crew a chance to leave early, which none of them took
- His lifetime achievement award from the Savannah College of Art and Design was found hidden in some bushes at a Brooklyn intersection
- Many actors have cited him as one of their favorite directors to work with because of how he encouraged them, inspired their creativity and collaborated with them and other artists involved in the production of a film
- Though he stated in an interview that when he died, he wanted to be cremated and scattered over Katz's Delicatessen, his final resting place is in New Mount Carmel Cemetery in Glendale, New York
Awards
- 1957Golden Berlin BearWinner
- 1957OCIC AwardWinner
- 1957Top 10 Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 1957Special MentionWinner
- 1957NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1958Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1958DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1958Golden Globe - Best Director:Nominated
- 1958Silver Ribbon - Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero):Winner
- 1959Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 1960Blue Ribbon Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
- 1960Bodil - Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film):Winner
- 1960Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
- 1960Silver SeashellWinner
- 1962Palme d'OrNominated
- 1963DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1964FIPRESCI Prize - Honorable MentionWinner
- 1964Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 1965Palme d'OrNominated
- 1966BAFTA Film Award - Best British Film:Nominated
- 1966BAFTA Film Award - Best Film from any Source:Nominated
- 1966UN AwardNominated
- 1966Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 1966Bodil - Best Non-European Film (Bedste ikke-europæiske film):Winner
- 1966DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1967UN AwardNominated
- 1968BAFTA Film Award - Best British Film:Nominated
- 1969Palme d'OrNominated
- 1969Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 1974DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1974CEC AwardWinner
- 1974San Gregorio PrizeWinner
- 1974Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 1975BAFTA Film Award - Best Direction:Nominated
- 1975DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1975LAFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1976Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1976BAFTA Film Award - Best Direction:Nominated
- 1976DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1976Evening Standard British Film Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1976Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1976LAFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1977Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1977DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1977Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Winner
- 1978BAFTA Film Award - Best Direction:Nominated
- 1981KCFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1981NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1981NYFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1981Golden LionNominated
- 1981Pasinetti Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1982Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1982Edgar - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1982Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1982NBR Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1982NSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1982NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1982WGA Award (Screen) - Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1983Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1983Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1983Best FilmNominated
- 1989Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1992Palme d'OrNominated
- 1993International Fantasy Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2002Felix - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2006Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2007Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2008Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2008HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2008Silver Ribbon - Best Non-European Director (Regista del Miglior Film Non-Europeo):Winner
- 2009Fotogramas de Plata - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 2009Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Film Director:Winner
- 2009Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2009Sant Jordi - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 2009Audience Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner