Kathryn Bigelow

Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow has developed a vast portfolio of celebrated feature films and commercials. A force across both advertising and film, Bigelow is a timeless filmmaker with an unwavering work ethic and an incredible focus to her craft.

One of her seminal works, The Hurt Locker, is an Iraq War thriller that delves into the psychological and emotional toll of war on its characters. The film received widespread acclaim and nine Academy Award nominations, ultimately securing the Best Picture Oscar. Equally historic was her win for Best Director, making Bigelow the first woman in the history of the Oscars to receive this accolade.

Bigelow continued her exploration of politically charged narratives with Zero Dark Thirty, providing an unflinching account of the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden. The film earned her another Best Picture nomination, further cementing her reputation as a masterful storyteller. More recently, she directed Detroit, about a pivotal moment during the racially charged 12th Street Riot in Detroit in 1967. The film delves deep into the personal stories of its characters, capturing the raw emotions and social injustices of the time and showcases Bigelow’s trademark ability to breathe life into historical events, bringing them to the forefront of contemporary consciousness. Building on her legacy, this year Bigelow will be partnering with Netflix to helm a gripping ticking clock thriller focusing on a group of White House officials racing to thwart an incoming missile attack on the U.S.

Her commercial work extends these sensibilities to powerful and socially impactful campaigns. Recently, she directed “The Aviators” for Xfinity, showcasing a real-life squadron of former pilots who regained the ability to fly thanks to technology. Her “Hollywood in Your Pocket” film, shot entirely on the iPhone 13 Pro with Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, stands as a testament to Bigelow’s versatility and innovation as a director, earning her a DGA nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials. Additionally, she has collaborated with leading brands including AT&T, Budweiser, Apple, Mercedes, Chanel, Ford, and Chase, to name a few.

Her collaboration with VR creator Imraan Ismail resulted in the groundbreaking VR documentary The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes, a short VR documentary film exploring the African elephants’ race toward extinction at the hands of ivory-seeking poachers. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was dubbed “remarkable” by Hillary Clinton.

Bigelow’s early work reveals her penchant for pushing boundaries and her willingness to tackle diverse genres with beloved films including The Loveless, Blue Steel, Point Break, Strange Days, and K-19: The Widowmaker.

With unyielding commitment to craft coupled with fearless exploration of complex and timely subjects, Bigelow has cemented her position as a visionary filmmaker and a timeless icon in cinema history inviting audiences to introspect with every project she does.