“It's very difficult to put your finger on why a certain actor or actress will capture your attention, and you'll think they're right for a role. There's an essence to a person.”

American filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter

James Gray is an American filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter, known for a run of features that began with Little Odessa in 1994. His work has placed him among contemporary American directors with an international festival presence. He has directed eight other features, including We Own the Night, Two Lovers, The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, Ad Astra, Armageddon Time, and Paper Tiger. Six of his films have competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a sign of the attention his films have drawn on the festival circuit.