When it comes to creating a wonderful space for film aficionados, Letterboxd does it the best. Why? Simply, because it was founded with the motive of giving all movie enthusiasts a platform where they can share their taste in cinema and opinions, keep track of their watchlist, discover new recommendations, and familiarize themselves with other individuals and celebrities' favorite movies. Matthew Buchanan and Karl Von Randow are the co-founders of the platform, and it was established in 2011.
It's like a social media site built for the film community, where everything is about cinema and one can interact with people who are as enthusiastic about movies as you are. What's more, you don't even have to be a professional critic or a journalist to write reviews or rate, as it's like an open diary where individuals can express their thoughts as they please and can make lists of their favorite watches. Many renowned filmmakers are also part of this fun community, which makes it even better, as one gets easy access to them and learns more about their views, perspectives, and preferred choices in cinema. I have accumulated a list of famous directors whom you can follow on Letterboxd right away.
5. Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings has become a guiding light for several aspiring filmmakers, as he understands that the art of filmmaking doesn't always have to start big. One can get started on a small budget, create projects, and put their creativity out there, and that's how even he started. After his graduation from film school, he received a job offer from Industrial Light and Magic to work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier in the visual effects department. As he wanted to put a spotlight on his craft, he soon went on to produce a movie for filmmaker Patrick Wang. (via Metal)
Embracing his solo film journey, he later aided his friends in crafting certain projects for YouTube and Vimeo while juggling other production works. In 2018, he starred in and directed Thunder Road, which he funded through Kickstarter (a crowdfunding platform). The movie earned wide acclaim, earning him several accolades including the South by Southwest Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize. His other notable filmmaking and acting credits include The Wolf of Snow Hollow, The Beta Test, and Halloween Kills. He is an active user of Letterboxd and is often seen sharing honest and short reviews.
Letterboxd ID: jimmycthatsme
4. Isabel Sandoval
Isabel Sandoval is a Filipina director whose career soon transitioned from being an NYU MBA student to pursuing filmmaking professionally. She is widely known for her bold filmmaking style, where she puts her characters in engaging narratives, exploring their most private thoughts and experiences, while also showcasing the emotionality and complexities of being a human through sensual cinema. Through her creative works, she indeed has established herself as the "Queen of Sensual Cinema." Some of her notable works as an actor and director include Señorita, Lingua Franca, Shangri-La, and Aparisyon. According to her recent Letterboxd history, Sandoval is occasionally active and appears to like expressing her opinions on certain industry gems.
Letterboxd ID: isabelsandoval
3. Roger Avary
Pulp Fiction is one of the greatest movies to be made with a star-studded cast, but Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary's compelling and non-linear storytelling did wonders for its success, earning them an Academy Nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Before this superhit blockbuster, the first feature film he directed and wrote was Killing Zoe, which earned a grand prize award at the 5th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival. In 2019, he made the 1993 movie semi-sequel named Lucky Day, led by Nina Dobrev and Luke Bracey. His other directorial works consist of Mr. Stitch, The Rules of Attraction, and Glitterati. At the time of writing, Avary doesn't appear to be active on the platform but you can surely go through his watched history and liked movies.
Letterboxd ID: Avary
2. Anurag Kashyap
Anurag Kashyap is a renowned Indian filmmaker who is often seen ditching glamorous and dreamy narratives; rather, he takes a more thought-provoking and realistic approach in his movies. At times, his filmmaking style also digs deeper into the complex storylines, which incorporate current events and explore dark and gritty themes at their best. He is popularly also known for employing a guerrilla style of filmmaking and for showcasing fresh talent rather than well-known stars. Aside from being a filmmaker, he is also a writer who prefers to pen in solitude and occasionally does acting. As a director, his best works include Black Friday, Dev. D, Gulaal, Gangs of Wasseypur (I & II), Ugly, and Choked. As per his Letterboxd history, it seems he likes discovering different types of movies from various film industries and also is staying updated with recent releases.
Letterboxd ID: anuragkashyap
1. Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese is considered one of the most prominent filmmakers in the history of cinema. Initially, he wanted to become a priest and become "influential," but it didn't work out for him as he was expelled from seminary school. However, he gave a shot to his filmmaking career and looked at how his greatest works in cinema itself have become most influential and impactful and created a legacy worth remembering. In 1963, he kickstarted his career by making short films; however, it was 1973's Mean Streets that served as his breakthrough. Throughout his illustrious career, he made remarkable movies including The Irishman, Taxi Driver, Shutter Island, The Wolf of the Wall Street, Killers of the Flower Moon, and others. Last year, the award-winning director joined Letterboxd, and the first thing he did was to make a "Companion list" which consisted of his double-feature movie choices (a pair of his movies + old classics) at the request of many film festivals.
Letterboxd ID: mscorsese