365days365films

Profile | プロフィール

Born / 出身
October 19, 1978 | Denver, Colorado, USA

Occupation / 職業
Film Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Producer

映画監督、脚本家、撮影監督、プロデューサー

Biography | 経歴

[English] Lee Isaac Chung is an American film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer best known for his intimate, humanist dramas and his unexpected pivot into blockbuster filmmaking. Born to South Korean immigrant parents, Chung grew up on a farm in Arkansas, an experience that would later inspire his semi-autobiographical masterpiece Minari (2020). His directorial debut Munyurangabo (2007), filmed in Rwanda, premiered at Cannes to critical acclaim, with Roger Ebert calling it a “masterpiece.” Minari earned six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, and won Best Supporting Actress for Youn Yuh-jung. After this intimate success, Chung made a surprising transition to big-budget filmmaking with Twisters (2024), demonstrating his versatility across genres and scales. He resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Valerie.

[日本語] リー・アイザック・チョンは、親密で人間主義的なドラマと、ブロックバスター映画製作への予想外の転身で最もよく知られるアメリカの映画監督、脚本家、撮影監督です。韓国系移民の両親のもとに生まれ、アーカンソー州の農場で育ちました。この経験が後に半自伝的傑作『ミナリ』(2020)のインスピレーションとなりました。監督デビュー作『ムニュランガボ』(2007)はルワンダで撮影され、カンヌ映画祭でプレミア上映されて批評的絶賛を受け、ロジャー・エバートは「傑作」と呼びました。『ミナリ』は作品賞、監督賞、脚本賞を含む6つのアカデミー賞ノミネートを獲得し、ユン・ヨジョンが助演女優賞を受賞しました。この親密な成功の後、『ツイスターズ』(2024)で大予算映画製作に驚くべき転身を遂げ、ジャンルとスケールを超えた多才さを示しました。妻ヴァレリーとブルックリンに在住。

Highlights / 主な歩み:

• 2006: Traveled to Rwanda with wife (art therapist) to work with genocide survivors. / 妻(アートセラピスト)と共にルワンダへ。虐殺生存者と活動。
• 2007: Munyurangabo premiered at Cannes; called “masterpiece” by Roger Ebert. / 『ムニュランガボ』がカンヌでプレミア。エバートが「傑作」と評価。
• 2007: Founded Almond Tree Films Rwanda with local filmmakers. / 現地映画監督とAlmond Tree Films Rwandaを設立。
• 2018: Wrote Minari while considering retirement from filmmaking. / 映画製作からの引退を考えながら『ミナリ』を執筆。
• 2020: Minari released to critical acclaim and awards success. / 『ミナリ』公開。批評的絶賛と受賞の成功。
• 2021: Received 2 personal Academy Award nominations for Minari (Director, Screenplay); film received 6 total. / 『ミナリ』で2つの個人オスカーノミネート(監督賞、脚本賞)。作品は計6部門ノミネート。
• 2023: Directed episode of The Mandalorian Season 3. / 『マンダロリアン』シーズン3のエピソード監督。
• 2024: Directed blockbuster Twisters; worked with Steven Spielberg. / ブロックバスター『ツイスターズ』監督。スティーブン・スピルバーグと協力。

Filmography | 主な作品

Feature Films / 長編映画

Television / テレビ

• The Mandalorian Season 3 (2023) – “Chapter 19: The Convert” / Episode director
• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024-2025) – Episode director / Disney+ series (December 2024 – January 2025)

Unrealized Projects / 未実現プロジェクト

• Your Name (2020-2021) – Live-action adaptation / Departed due to scheduling conflicts

Awards & Recognition | 受賞歴

Academy Awards (アカデミー賞) – Minari

Personal Nominations (個人ノミネート):

• Best Director (2021)
• Best Original Screenplay (2021)

Film Received 6 Nominations Total:

• Best Picture (2021, producers nominated)
• Best Director (2021, Lee Isaac Chung)
• Best Original Screenplay (2021, Lee Isaac Chung)
• Best Actor – Steven Yeun (2021)
• Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung (2021) – WON 🏆
• Best Original Score (2021)

Historic Achievement: Directed 2 actors to Oscar nominations (Steven Yeun, Youn Yuh-jung). Youn won, becoming first Korean actress to win an Oscar.

Cannes Film Festival

• Munyurangabo (2007) – Official Selection

Other Major Recognition

• Variety on Munyurangabo: “An astonishing and thoroughly masterful debut”
• Roger Ebert on Munyurangabo: “A beautiful and powerful film – a masterpiece”
• Multiple festival selections worldwide including Busan International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Torino Film Festival

External Links | 外部リンク

• IMDb
• Wikipedia