# Sean Durkin

Timothy Sean Durkin (born December 9, 1981) is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Durkin is known for directing the critically acclaimed independent films Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), The Nest (2020), and The Iron Claw (2023). He is also known for directing episodes of the Channel 4 series Southcliffe (2013) and the Amazon Prime Video miniseries Dead Ringers (2023).

## Early life and education

Durkin was born in Canada and moved to England soon thereafter; he was raised in North London and in Surrey until his family moved to Manhattan when he was 12. Durkin graduated from Kent School in Kent, Connecticut in 2000, then attended the film school at New York University, where he graduated in 2005 and delivered his thesis film in 2006. He moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2008.

## Career

In an interview with Robert K. Elder for the book The Best Film You've Never Seen, Durkin said, “When I make a film, I think about things that scare me. My exploration of those things is to try and wrap my head around them and confront them.” Durkin is a founding member of Borderline Films with fellow directors Antonio Campos and Josh Mond. Durkin started his career directing several short films starting with Doris in 2006. His short film, Mary Last Seen won the award for best short film at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight. Durkin adapted the short into his first feature length film, the psychological-thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) which was starred Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, and Sarah Paulson. The film revolves around a woman suffering from paranoia after returning to her family from an abusive cult in the Catskill Mountains. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival where he won the Dramatic Directing Award. The film received positive reviews with Christy Lemire of the Associated Press naming it the best film of 2011.
In 2013, Durkin directed the Channel 4 drama series Southcliffe, starring Sean Harris and Rory Kinnear. His second film, another psychological drama, The Nest (2020) starred Carrie Coon and Jude Law. The film revolves a couple whose marriage dissolves once they move from New York to London. Film critic Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair declared the film the best film of the year. The film received six British Independent Film Award nominations including three awards Durkin for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best British Independent Film. Durkin then directed his third film the A24 drama The Iron Claw (2023), starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Lily James. The film is a biography based on the Von Erich family of wrestlers.

## Favorite films

Durkin participated in the 2012 Sight & Sound critics' poll, where he listed his ten favorite films as follows:
* 3 Women (USA, 1977)
* The Birds (USA, 1963)
* The Conformist (Italy, 1970)
* The Goonies (USA, 1985)
* Jaws (USA, 1975)
* The Panic in Needle Park (USA, 1971)
* Persona (Sweden, 1966)
* The Piano Teacher (France, 2001)
* Rosemary's Baby (USA, 1968)
* The Shining (USA, 1980)

## Filmography
### Short films

| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
| 2006 | Doris | Yes | No | No |
| 2007 | The Last 15 | No | No | Yes |
| 2008 | A Long Way Home | No | No | Yes |
| 2010 | Mary Last Seen | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2010 | Kids in Love | No | No | Yes |
| 2013 | Karaoke! | No | No | Yes |
| 2013 | 1009 | No | No | Executive |
| 2014 | Tzniut | No | No | Executive |

### Films

| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
| 2011 | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2020 | The Nest | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | The Iron Claw | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Executive producer
* Two Gates of Sleep (2010)
* The Eyes of My Mother (2016)
* Christine (2016)
* Katie Says Goodbye (2016)
* Piercing (2018)
* The Rental (2020)
Producer
* Afterschool (2008)
* Simon Killer (2012)
* James White (2015)

### Television

| Year | Title | Director | Executive Producer | Notes |
| 2013 | Southcliffe | Yes | No | Miniseries |
| 2023 | Dead Ringers | Yes | Yes | 3 episodes |

### Music videos

* "Air Traffic Control" by Louis XIV (2008)
* "Your Love Is Killing Me" by Sharon Van Etten (2014)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2014 | BAFTA TV Award | Best Mini-Series | Southcliffe | Nominated |
| 2021 | British Independent Film Award | Best British Independent Film | The Nest | Pending |
| 2021 | British Independent Film Award | Best Director | The Nest | Nominated |
| 2021 | British Independent Film Award | Best Screenplay | The Nest | Nominated |
| 2010 | Cannes Film Festival | SFR Prize | Mary Last Seen | Won |
| 2011 | Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Nominated |
| 2008 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | Afterschool | Nominated |
| 2011 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Nominated |
| 2015 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | James White | Nominated |
| 2010 | Sundance Film Festival | Short Filmmaking Award | Mary Last Seen | Nominated |
| 2011 | Sundance Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Nominated |
| 2011 | Sundance Film Festival | Directing Award | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Won |