Benh Zeitlin

Director
Composer
Writer

Eight years ago director Benh Zeitlin let 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' loose into the world. So why did it take nearly a decade to make his new movie, 'Wendy'?

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Why 'Wendy' Took 8 Years to Make

Born in New York City and raised in Sunnyside, Queens and then Westchester County, Benh Zeitlin began his career as a film-maker at the tender age of 6 years when he and a friend made a Batman movie. He continued making films as a child before attending Wesleyan University, where he majored in film. After graduation, Benh spent a summer in Prague working with a prominent animation artist. Returning to the U.S., he worked in a private school in Manhattan helping elementary students create short films.

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Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 59 wins & 56 nominations total

Photos43

Benh Zeitlin and Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Benh Zeitlin in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Benh Zeitlin at an event for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Benh Zeitlin at an event for The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village (2020)

Benh Zeitlin and Devin France at an event for The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village (2020)

Kevin Smith, Benh Zeitlin, and Devin France at an event for The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village (2020)

Benh Zeitlin poses in the Kindle Fire HD and IMDb Green Room during the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 23, 2013 in Santa Monica, California.

Known for:

Beasts of the Southern Wild

7.2

Director

2012

Glory at Sea

7.0

Short

Director

2008

Wendy

5.7

Director

2020

Egg

7.0

Short

Director

2005

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

Arcade Fire: Unconditional I
- Director
- Music Video
- 2022
Wendy
- Director
- 2020
Beasts of the Southern Wild
- Director
- 2012
Glory at Sea
- Director
- Short
- 2008
The Origins of Electricity
- Director
- Short
- 2006
Brooklyn Independent Vol. 1
- Director
- Video
- 2005
Egg
- Director
- Short
- 2005

Composer

Writer

Trivia
His parents Steve Zeitlin and Amanda Dargan are both urban folklorists who founded and run the highly respected nonprofit City Lore organization in NYC.

Quotes
There are funny stories about [the making of Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) ] how I went knocking on someone's door and he came out with a shotgun. Even then, that guy showed up at our gas station two days later, and was like, "I'm sorry. I thought you guys were trying to kill me or you're from Witness Protection or something like that. I didn't mean to scare you. You want any red fish?" He'd just caught a bunch. You get real hospitality in Louisiana. I think it'd be much harder in another place because the state is extremely open and a more accepting, hospitable place.