“When people talk about first-timers, I always think of Spike Lee. In every film he's made, he has A-listers, but he's always giving roles to first-time actors and breaking careers. He's brought such wonderful actors into the spotlight, and I love that.”

American filmmaker

Sean Baker is an American filmmaker, best known for independent narrative features as a director, writer, editor, and producer. His work has focused on people at the margins of society, especially immigrants and sex workers. He made his directorial debut with Four Letter Words in 2000 and co-created the television character Greg the Bunny. Baker has since directed seven feature films, including Take Out, Prince of Broadway, Starlet, Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket, and Anora. His films often center on everyday struggle, work, and survival.