Lorene Scafaria

Lorene Scafaria is an American film director, screenwriter, playwright, and actress. She first gained recognition for writing the screenplay for the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Scafaria later transitioned into directing with her feature debut, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012), and achieved major critical and commercial success with the crime drama Hustlers (2019). Her work is known for its sharp dialogue, character-driven narratives, and exploration of complex female protagonists.

Early life and education

Lorene Scafaria was born in New Jersey and is of Greek and Italian descent. She developed an early interest in storytelling and performance, participating in school plays and writing from a young age. Scafaria attended Montclair State University, where she studied English literature and creative writing. During her time at university, she began writing plays and performing in local theatre productions in New York City, laying the groundwork for her career in the entertainment industry.

Career

Scafaria began her career as a playwright and actress in Off-Off-Broadway theater. Her breakthrough came when she sold her screenplay for Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, based on the young adult novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan; the film starred Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. She made her directorial debut with Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a apocalyptic comedy-drama featuring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. Scafaria further established herself with The Meddler (2015), a semi-autobiographical film starring Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne. Her most acclaimed work to date is Hustlers (2019), a critically lauded film inspired by a New York Magazine article about strip club employees; it featured Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, and Keke Palmer, and earned numerous accolades. She has also directed episodes for television series such as Succession and served as a co-executive producer on the series The Good Wife.

Filmography

* Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) – Writer * Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) – Director, Writer * The Meddler (2015) – Director, Writer * Hustlers (2019) – Director, Writer, Executive Producer * She Came to Me (2023) – Actor Scafaria has also made acting appearances in films like The Big Short and television shows including The Good Place and New Girl.

Personal life

Scafaria maintains a relatively private personal life. She is known to be an advocate for women in film and has spoken extensively about the challenges and opportunities for female directors in Hollywood. Her experiences growing up in New Jersey and her family background have often influenced her screenwriting, particularly evident in the themes of The Meddler. She resides in Los Angeles and continues to be active in both independent and mainstream filmmaking circles.

Awards and nominations

For her work on Hustlers, Scafaria received widespread recognition, including nominations for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also earned her a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Earlier in her career, her screenplay for Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist was nominated for an MTV Movie Award.

Category:American film directors Category:American screenwriters Category:American actresses Category:1978 births Category:Living people