Derek Cianfrance

Derek M. Cianfrance (; born January 23, 1974) is an American film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and editor. He is best known for writing and directing the films Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), The Light Between Oceans (2017) and Roofman (2025) as well as the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True (2020). For his contributions to the story of Sound of Metal (2020), he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with its director Darius Marder and Abraham Marder.

Early life and education Cianfrance grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, and graduated from Green Mountain High School, and then attended the University of Colorado Boulder, studying film production under avant-garde filmmakers Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon.

Career 1998–2017: Breakthrough and acclaim At 23, he wrote, directed, and edited his first feature film, Brother Tied, which premiered and was awarded at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and was well received at festivals including Sundance.

His second feature, Blue Valentine, starred Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. The two actors became familiar with their roles several years before filming but never met in person. The project was originally slated to shoot in California, but Cianfrance relocated to Brooklyn so that Williams could be with her daughter. There were no rehearsals and Cianfrance rarely shot more than one take per shot. The film was originally given an NC-17 rating, despite having little nudity and no violence. It has since been changed to an R-rating after an appeal was filed by The Weinstein Company.

Blue Valentine star Gosling worked with Cianfrance again on The Place Beyond the Pines (2013), which followed a motorcycle stunt rider (Gosling) who becomes a bank robber to support his newborn son. The project was developed for years with Cianfrance eventually passing the reins over to his friend and The Place Beyond the Pines co-writer Darius Marder resulting in Sound of Metal (2019). Starring Riz Ahmed, the film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was released by Amazon Studios in 2020. Cianfrance, Marder, and his brother Abraham Marder, received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay nomination for the film.

Cianfrance wrote and directed the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True, an adaptation of Wally Lamb's novel of the same name. The series premiered in spring 2020.

In October 2021, he was set to write and direct Wolfman, replacing Leigh Whannell as director, along with screenwriters Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Shuker Blum. The film tapped Gosling to star, marking their third collaboration. In December 2023, Cianfrance and Gosling were reported to have exited the project, with Whannell returning to directing duties and Christopher Abbott replacing Gosling in the lead role.

Cianfrance is also known for his TV documentary work, which includes portraits of musicians Sean Combs and Run DMC and the Battleground basketball series. He is currently working on a television series called Muscle, for HBO, which he says will be a comedy series with a unique take on "character development."

Personal life Cianfrance is married to actress and film director Shannon Plumb. Together, they have two children.

Filmography Film

Year Title Director Writer Notes 1998 Brother Tied Also cinematographer and editor; never commercially released 2010 Blue Valentine 2012 The Place Beyond the Pines 2016 The Light Between Oceans 2020 Sound of Metal 2025 Roofman

Television Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Notes 2020 I Know This Much Is True Miniseries

Documentary Year Title Notes 2002 Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay: The Last Interview Also cinematographer 2004 Battlegrounds: King of the World 2005 Battlegrounds: King of the Court 2006 Black and White: A Portrait of Sean Combs TV movie 2008 The Power of Dreams - Dream the Impossible2021 His Name Is Rayas Executive Producer

Actor Towheads (2013) (as "Matt")

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Title Result 2020 Academy Award Best Original Screenplay Sound of Metal 2016 Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directing – Commercials Nike Golf's "Chase", Squarespace's "Manifesto" Powerade's "Doubts" and "Expectations" 2003 Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography Streets of Legend 2003 Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Prize 2010 Grand Jury Prize Blue Valentine 2016 Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion The Light Between Oceans 2020 Writers Guild of America Best Original Screenplay Sound of Metal