BIOGRAPHY:

Even as a young child, Anderson would steal his father’s Super 8 camera to create silent films starring his brothers and friends. He graduated from St. John’s School in Houston in 1987, which was later used as the setting for Rushmore, and advanced to The University of Texas to study Philosophy – whilst working as a part-time cinema projectionist. This was where he met future colleague Owen Wilson.

In 1996, Anderson would direct Bottle Rocket – his first feature film and based on a previous short film. Starring his good friend Owen Wilson, the film performed poorly at the box office despite earning virtuous reviews – Martin Scorsese highlighted Bottle Rocket as one of his favorite films of the 1990s.

Anderson’s film career was ignited from this point onward. 1998 brought long-term collaborators Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray together to film Rushmore. Being such a critical success, Anderson won Best Director at the 1999 Independent Spirit Awards. Since then, a keen eye has been cast on Anderson and his collaborators as they eagerly awaited his next project.

Films such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel are visually stunning and even considered masterpieces (all except The Grand Budapest Hotel have been turned into stunning Criterion Collections). Anderson’s obscure eye for precision and symmetry has been noted by The Academy – his nominations include Best Director and Best Original Screenplay which resulted in him receiving worldwide recognition.