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| Daniel Scheinert | |
|---|---|
| Name | Daniel Scheinert |
| Birth date | 1 September 1987 |
| Birth place | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Occupation | Film director, Screenwriter, Music video director |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Notable works | Swiss Army Man, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Death of Dick Long |
Daniel Scheinert is an American filmmaker and screenwriter known for inventive, genre-bending work spanning independent drama, surreal comedy, and music videos. He first rose to prominence through collaborations with performer and director Daniel Kwan as the duo "Daniels", and later earned widespread recognition for co-directing the multimedia-sprawling feature film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Scheinert's films and videos often blend absurdist humor with emotional stakes, drawing attention from institutions such as the Sundance Film Festival, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and major studios including A24.
Daniel Scheinert was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Rolla, Missouri. He attended Rolla High School before studying film and related arts at Millsaps College and later at Florida State University where he completed studies in film production. During his education he was exposed to festivals and institutions such as the Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and programs at South by Southwest that influenced his early path into independent filmmaking. His formative influences included experimental cinema from auteurs screened at the Telluride Film Festival and short-film programming at the Cannes Film Festival.
Scheinert began his career directing music videos and short films, collaborating frequently with Daniel Kwan under the name "Daniels". Early work included music videos for artists on labels such as Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, and Interscope Records, connecting him to musicians like Childish Gambino, Foster the People, and FKA twigs. The duo's video for a major artist earned attention from outlets like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NME and led to opportunities in commercial directing for agencies including Wieden+Kennedy and Droga5.
His feature debut, Swiss Army Man, co-directed with Kwan, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by A24. The film established their reputation for blending absurdist premises with humanistic themes and led to collaborations with actors associated with Focus Features and Universal Pictures. Scheinert and Kwan then pursued projects across independent and studio systems, culminating in co-directing roles on Everything Everywhere All at Once, a film that reunited them with producers from A24 and drew talent from Marvel Studios veterans and celebrated actors who had worked with companies such as Netflix and Amazon Studios.
Outside features, Scheinert has directed commercials and short-form content for corporations and brands including Nike, Samsung, and Apple, and has appeared on panels at institutions such as the American Film Institute and SXSW. He has also worked with producers and writers associated with Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency on development projects and has optioned concepts with companies like Searchlight Pictures.
Scheinert's style is characterized by rapid shifts in tone, kinetic editing, and an integration of practical effects with digital compositing techniques familiar to post-production houses like Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital. He frequently employs surreal imagery and nonlinear storytelling reminiscent of works screened at the Cannes Film Festival and retrospectives of directors such as Michel Gondry, Charlie Kaufman, and Wes Anderson. His music video background brings a rhythmic approach to visual storytelling influenced by the aesthetics promoted by outlets like MTV, Vevo, and Pitchfork.
Narratively, Scheinert favors scripts that balance emotional arcs with high-concept premises—a strategy comparable to filmmakers who found success at Sundance Film Festival and later transitioned to wider audiences via distributors like A24 and Sony Pictures Classics. He cites influences from screenwriters and directors showcased at Telluride Film Festival and collaborative creators associated with Cartoon Network Studios and Adult Swim programming.
- Swiss Army Man (2016) — Co-directed with Daniel Kwan; premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and released by A24. The film stars performers who have worked with Focus Features and Lionsgate and features a score composed by artists connected to Sony Music. - The Death of Dick Long (2019) — A solo directing effort that premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was distributed in association with independent distributors and festivals such as SXSW. - Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) — Co-directed with Daniel Kwan; premiered at the South by Southwest and received wide release through A24, featuring cast members with ties to Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures. - Music videos and commercials — Collaborations with artists and brands affiliated with Atlantic Records, Interscope Records, Nike, and Samsung.
Scheinert has received recognition from festival juries and industry organizations including nominations and awards at the Independent Spirit Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and honors from the Sundance Film Festival programming. For Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniels received multiple nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and won awards from institutions including the Directors Guild of America and Golden Globe Awards circuits via ensemble and directing categories. His music video work has been acknowledged by MTV Video Music Awards and critics at Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
Scheinert resides in Los Angeles, California and maintains creative partnerships with colleagues based in hubs such as New York City and Austin, Texas. He collaborates frequently with producers, editors, and composers who have credits with companies like A24, Focus Features, and major labels including Columbia Records. Outside film, he has participated in speaking engagements at institutions such as the American Film Institute and festivals like Sundance Film Festival and SXSW.
Category:Living people Category:American film directors Category:1987 births