Philip Kaufman

American film director and screenwriter

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Philip Kaufman

Who is Philip Kaufman?

Philip Kaufman (born October 23, 1936) is an American film director and screenwriter who has directed fifteen films over a career spanning nearly five decades. He is considered an "auteur" whose films have always expressed his personal vision. Kaufman's works have included genres such as realism, horror, fantasy, erotica, western, and crime.

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Historical significance

He has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award along with nominations for an Academy Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. He has been described as a "maverick" and an "iconoclast," notable for his versatility and independence, often directing eclectic and controversial films. Kaufman’s film The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) earned him the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He directed such films as The Wanderers (1979), Rising Sun (1993), the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Henry & June (1990, the first film to be given an NC-17 rating), and Quills (2000). His film The Right Stuff (1983), received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

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MLA

“Philip Kaufman.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/philip-kaufman/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

APA

Philip Kaufman. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/philip-kaufman/

Chicago

“Philip Kaufman.” thisDay. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/philip-kaufman/.