February 6 - Andrey Zvyagintsev

Happy 56th Birthday, Andrey Zvyagintsev! Born today in 1964 as Andrey Petrovich Zvyagintsev, this Russian screenwriter and film director's 2003 Russian drama film 'Vozvrashcheniye' ('The Return') won him a Golden Lion at the 60th Venice Film Festival. 

Following 'The Return', Zvyagintsev directed the 2007 Russian drama film 'Izgnanie' ('The Banishment') and the 2011 Russian drama/melodrama film 'Elena'. 

However, Zvyagintsev is best known for co-writing, producing and directing the 2014 Russian drama/crime film 'Leviafan' ('Leviathan'). 

The film follows hotheaded Russian car mechanic Kolya (Alexey Serebryakov), his second wife Lilya (Elena Lyadova) and his teenage son, Roma (Sergey Pokhodyaev). When corrupt Mayor Vadim (Roman Madyanov) tries to seize possession of Kolya's ancestral home, he fights back.  

  

Zvyagintsev has been active from 2000–present. 

  

#borntodirect 

@AndreyZvyagintsev 

@BBC 

February 6 - Jim Sheridan

Happy 71st Birthday, Jim Sheridan! Born today in 1949, this Irish playwright, screenwriter, film producer and film director is master story-teller, and an acclaimed film director of few films, but good films nevertheless. Sheridan was a prominent figure of the New Wave of Irish filmmaking in the 1990s. 

  

In the few years from 1989 to 1993, directed two critically acclaimed films set in Ireland. 

These included co-writing and directing the 1989 Irish biographical drama/comedy-drama film 'My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown' (also known simply as 'My Left Foot') and the 1993 biographical courtroom thriller/drama film 'In the Name of the Father'. Both features starred Daniel Day-Lewis. 

  

Between these features, Sheridan received thirteen Academy Award nominations. He has personally received six Academy Award nominations as well. 

  

Sheridan has been active from 1989–present. 

  

#borntodirect 

@tcm 

@BFI 

February 6 - François Truffaut

Happy Birthday, François Truffaut! Born today in 1932 as François Roland Truffaut, this French film critic, actor, screenwriter, producer and film director is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. 

In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry, having worked on over twenty-five films. 

  

Of these, Truffaut is best known for directing five features. 

During the late 1950s, Truffaut directed the 1959 French black and white drama/à clef film 'Les Quatre Cents Coups' ('The 400 Blows'), 

during the 1960s, he directed the French black and white crime drama/mystery film 'Tirez sur le pianiste' ('Shoot the Piano Player') and the 1962 French black and white drama/romance film 'Jules et Jim' ('Jules and Jim'). 

In the early 1970s, he directed the 1973 French drama/comedy-drama film 'La Nuit américaine' ('Day for Night').

During the late 1970s, Truffaut co-starred in Steven Spielberg's 1977 science fiction/drama film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. He played French government scientist Claude Lacombe.    

At the beginning of the next decade, Truffaut directed the 1980 French historical drama/romance film 'Le Dernier Métro' ('The Last Metro').

Four years later, Truffaut passed from a brain tumor on October 21, 1984. He was 52. 

On February 6, 2012, a Google Doodle was created in observance of what would have been Truffaut's 80th birthday.  

  

Truffaut had been active from 1955–1984. 

  

#borntodirect 

@Criterion 

@tcm 

@BFI 

@mubi 

@SensesofCinema 

@FIAFNY
@GoogleDoodles 

February 5 - National Shower with a Friend Day

Happy National Shower with a Friend Day! On February 5th, today is a tongue in cheek way of educating people about the benefits filtered, chlorine-free water.  

Winter is the coldest and loneliest season of the year. With dwindling daylight and Valentine’s Day at its heart, February can often leave people feeling dejected and somber.  

The day injects a bit of humor into the season while also serving to educate people on the benefits of showering in fresh, filtered water (and the effects of chlorine). 

Learn more about how chlorine is harmful to shower or bathe in or consume. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Shower with filtered water. Learn more about the harmful effects of chlorine and how to filter it. Use #ShowerWithAFriendDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

New Wave Enviro™, a company located in Denver, Colorado, submitted the day in 2014. 

The Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed the day in 2015 to be observed annually on February 5th. 

#ShowerWithAFriendDay 

@NewWaveEnviro 

@nichecinema