# Daniels (directors)

Daniel Kwan (born February 10, 1988) and Daniel Scheinert (born June 7, 1987), known collectively as the Daniels, are an American filmmaking duo. They began their career as directors of music videos, including ones for "Houdini" (2012) by Foster the People and "Turn Down for What" (2013) by DJ Snake and Lil Jon, both of which earned them nominations at the Grammy Awards.
They have since ventured into film, having written and directed the absurdist comedy-dramas Swiss Army Man (2016) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The latter became A24's highest-grossing film, and won the duo many awards, including Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

## Careers
### Music videos

Kwan and Scheinert met while they were both studying film at Emerson College in Boston. Kwan graduated in 2010 and Scheinert graduated in 2009. They went to college with Sunita Mani, who starred with Kwan in the music video for "Turn Down for What", which they directed.
Since 2011, the duo have directed music videos for artists including Foster the People, The Shins and Tenacious D. In 2018, Kwan co-founded the group We Direct Music Videos (W.D.M.V.), described as "a global community of music video directors who are committed to sustainable directorial labor practices".

### Transition to film and television

In 2016, the duo expanded to feature films, writing and directing Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, which received positive reviews, as well as the duo winning the Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. In 2019, Scheinert directed the black comedy-drama film The Death of Dick Long, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews.
The Daniels have since accumulated several television directing credits, including Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Legion (Kwan only) and On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Scheinert only). The duo were attached as directors on a prospective TV adaption of Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, being developed by Noah Hawley, but the project was not picked up.

### Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Daniels announced in 2017 they would write, direct, and produce a science-fiction film with their producing partner Jonathan Wang and the Russo brothers. Everything Everywhere All at Once, starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis, was released in March 2022 to widespread critical acclaim and box office success, garnering several awards and accolades for the duo including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director at the 95th Academy Awards. The film received 11 Academy Award nominations, more than any other film that year, and won seven. Prior to the Oscars ceremony, IGN calculated that Everything Everywhere All at Once had surpassed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as the most awarded film of all time.

### Upcoming projects

As of 2022, the Daniels have signed a first look TV deal with A24. The same year, they also signed a five-year film deal with Universal Pictures.
The duo were on the Time 100 Next list in 2022.
In March 2023, it was revealed that the Daniels had directed one episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024).
In February 2024, it was announced that the Daniels' next feature film that was previously scheduled to release on June 12, 2026, but Steven Spielberg booted it, with his untitled film now set to premiere on that date.

## Personal lives

Kwan was born in Westborough, Massachusetts, to a Taiwanese mother and a father from Hong Kong. He has been married to fellow filmmaker and animator Kirsten Lepore since 2016, and together they have one son. Kwan was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after researching the condition for Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Scheinert was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of Becky and Ken Scheinert. He attended Oak Mountain Elementary and Middle School, and was a student at the advanced magnet program Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School at the campus of Shades Valley High School.
In 2023, the Daniels won the Emerson College EVVY Alumni Award of Distinction.

## Filmography
### Short film

| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
| 2009 | Swingers | Yes | Yes | |
| 2010 | Puppets | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | My Best Friend's Wedding/ My Best Friend's Sweating | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Possibilia | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Interesting Ball | Yes | Yes | |
| 2020 | Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia | Yes | Yes | Segments |
Scheinert only
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
| 2007 | I'm Nostalgic | Yes | No |
| 2008 | Trust | Yes | Yes |

### Feature film

| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
| 2016 | Swiss Army Man | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2022 | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Scheinert only
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
| 2019 | The Death of Dick Long | Yes | Yes | Also portrayed Dick Long; Also performed "It's Been Awhile" |

### Television

| Year | Title | Episode |
| 2013 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | "Comic Con Air" |
| 2013 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | "Wreck the Malls" |
| 2013 | Childrens Hospital | "Coming and Going" |
| 2013 | Infomercials | "Broomshakalaka!" |
| 2020 | Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens | "Grandma & Chill" |
| 2024 | Star Wars: Skeleton Crew | "Can't Say I Remember No At Attin" |
Kwan only
| Year | Title | Episode |
| 2019 | Legion | "Chapter 23" |
Scheinert only
| Year | Title | Episode |
| 2017 | Right Now Kapow | "Radical Mutants/My Fair Peasant" |
| 2019 | On Becoming a God in Central Florida | "Many Masters" |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Artist |
| 2010 | "Underwear" | FM Belfast |
| 2010 | "Pigeons" | The Hundred in the Hands |
| 2010 | "Commotion" | The Hundred in the Hands |
| 2011 | "Simple Math" | Manchester Orchestra |
| 2011 | "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" | Foster the People |
| 2011 | "When the Night Falls" | Chromeo (featuring Solange Knowles) |
| 2012 | "My Machines" | Battles |
| 2012 | "Simple Song" | The Shins |
| 2012 | "Houdini" | Foster the People |
| 2012 | "Rize of the Fenix" | Tenacious D |
| 2013 | "Cry Like a Ghost" | Passion Pit |
| 2014 | "Turn Down for What" | DJ Snake and Lil Jon |
| 2014 | "Tongues" | Joywave |
| 2017 | "The Sunshine" | Manchester Orchestra |
| 2017 | "The Alien" | Manchester Orchestra |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2013 | Grammy Awards | Best Short Form Music Video | "Houdini" | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Grammy Awards | Best Music Video | "Turn Down for What" | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Gotham Independent Film Awards | Breakthrough Director | Swiss Army Man | Nominated | |
| | Sundance Film Festival | Directing Award Dramatic | Swiss Army Man | Won | [38] [39] [40] [41] |
| 2017 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | Swiss Army Man | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | Best Indie Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | [44] [45] |
| 2022 | Saturn Awards | Best Writing | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | [44] [45] |
| 2022 | Gotham Independent Film Awards | Best Feature | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | British Independent Film Awards | Best International Independent Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2022 | National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | American Film Institute Awards | Top 10 Films of the Year | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | New York Film Critics Online Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | [53] [54] |
| 2022 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | [53] [54] |
| 2022 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | [53] [54] |
| 2022 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | [55] [56] |
| 2022 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Action Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | [55] [56] |
| 2022 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Comedy Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | [55] [56] |
| 2022 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Runner-up | [55] [56] |
| 2022 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | [55] [56] |
| 2022 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Runner-up | |
| 2022 | Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2022 | Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Runner-up | |
| 2023 | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Academy Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Academy Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Picture - Musical/Comedy | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Director - Motion Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Screenplay - Motion Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Gold List | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Comedy | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Direction- Feature Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture– Comedy or Musical | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Satellite Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards | Best Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards | Best Indie Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | AACTA International Awards | Best Film | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | AACTA International Awards | Best Direction | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Capri Hollywood International Film Festival | Best Original Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Feature | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Director | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
| 2023 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Screenplay | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |