James Gray (film director)
James Gray (born 1969 in New York City ) is an American film director and screenwriter with Russian ancestors.
Life
Gray graduated in 1991, his film studies at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts from and wrote the screenplay for his first film Little Odessa at which he also directed. The film was praised by critics and won the Silver Lion at the International Film Festival in Venice in 1994.
In 2000 he directed the film produced by Miramax The Yards - In the backyard of power with Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix in the lead roles. But the success was the film. With his thriller We Own the Night - We Own the Night 2007 he had a far greater success, critically and commercially. A year later he competed with Two Lovers for the third time unsuccessful in competition at the International Film Festival of Cannes. In 2009 he was appointed to the jury of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.
He is currently married to Alexandra Dickson, with whom he has two children.