Hollywood's Next Wave: 4 Up-and-Coming Directors Shaping the Future of Film

Meet the next generation of visionary filmmakers redefining Hollywood with bold, original storytelling.

Hollywood is constantly evolving, and a new generation of filmmakers is emerging, carving out their own paths with independent films and unique storytelling. Many younger directors like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, Denis Villeneuve, Ryan Coogler, Barry Jenkins, the Safdie Brothers, Sean Baker, Greta Gerwig, Chloé Zhao, and Emerald Fennell have already cemented their places in the industry with influential films over the last decade. But who is next? Who are the filmmakers on the rise, ready to define the next ten years of cinema with unique perspectives and originality? Here are a few of the directors who give me hope for the future of movies, hope for creativity over endless franchises and originality over recycled IPs.

Jane Schoenbrun

Jane Schoenbrun is a filmmaker in their mid-30s out of New York, known for crafting eerie, deeply personal horror films that explore themes of identity, mental health, the transgender community, and the unsettling side of internet culture. Schoenbrun first gained attention with We’re All Going to the World’s Fair in 2021, a slow-burning horror-drama about digital loneliness, finding yourself, and the mental health struggles that come with social media and online communities. But it was I Saw The TV Glow that cemented them for me as one of the most exciting voices in indie horror. The film, which blends psychological horror with a surreal exploration of the trans experience, is the kind of movie that sticks with you long after the credits roll. There is one horrifying scene in particular that I keep seeing playback in my head, months after watching. It’s a film that truly makes you feel something profound without ever beating you over the head with its message, relying on your empathy for others and media literacy over overt messaging. Schoenbrun’s ability to create creeping dread while telling deeply human stories is unique and exciting, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Damian McCarthy

Damian McCarthy is an Irish filmmaker in his early 40s (a bit older for this list, but fairly new on the scene) who has already proven himself as a modern master of psychological horror and perfectly timed jump scares. McCarthy specializes in low-budget, high-impact horror that gets under your skin. His debut feature, Caveat (2020), was an unsettling nightmare of a film, filled with eerie tension and a disturbing use of space. His follow-up, Oddity (2024), took everything great about his debut and dialed it up a notch. The film is a slow-burn psychological horror masterpiece that showcases his ability to craft terror with well-timed and effective jump scares (the tent scene!) and an unsettling sense of dread. McCarthy lets the horror seep into every frame, creating a suffocating atmosphere that lingers. His work feels like the Irish folk horror answer to Robert Eggers, and if he ever gets his hands on a bigger budget, I can only imagine the nightmares and stories that he’ll bring to life.

Emma Seligman

Emma Seligman is a Canadian director and screenwriter in her late 20s who has already proven herself as one of the freshest comedic voices in Hollywood. Seligman burst onto the scene with her debut film Shiva Baby (2020), an anxiety-inducing dark comedy that could be labeled a horror movie for people with social anxiety, like myself. The film was a masterclass in claustrophobic tension, but also a hilarious and relatable take on family, expectations, and those horrible years right after graduation where everyone wants to know “what your plan is”. Then came Bottoms (2023), a gloriously absurd, laugh-out-loud teen sex comedy that felt like something right out of the 2000s, but with much smarter humor. It was ridiculous in all the right ways, and Seligman’s collaboration with Rachel Sennott has already proven to be one of the most exciting comedic partnerships in years. Hollywood needs more smart, original comedies, and Seligman is the perfect person to deliver them. Whatever she does next, I’m ready.

Pascal Plante

Pascal Plante is a Quebecois filmmaker in his mid-30s who has been quietly making a name for himself as one of the most interesting new voices in psychological thrillers. Plante started his career with smaller indie films before making waves with Les Chambres Rouges (Red Rooms) in 2023. This film transcends genres by mixing a courtroom drama with psychological horror, Internet culture, true crime, and detective style storytelling. It’s like Silence of the Lambs meets Se7en meets Saw and Untraceable. It feels like something a young David Fincher would have made, with sharp storytelling, chilling atmosphere, and a deep understanding of how to keep an audience on the edge of their seat. Plante’s minimalist, almost clinical approach to filmmaking gives his work a unique tone that sets him apart. If he follows the same trajectory as fellow Quebecois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, we could see him making the jump to bigger-budget psychological thrillers or Hollywood productions very soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up directing the next great thriller, something similar to Fincher’s Se7en or Villeneuve’s Prisoners.

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These directors are all proving that you don’t need $200 million to make a compelling film. Give me more $20 million movies, or $2 million movies. The creativity that comes with limited budgets is sometimes what makes for the best films. Everyone starts small, and these filmmakers are making the most of their opportunities, creating some of the most exciting, unique films today. If they keep this up, we might just be heading into another golden age of indie cinema driven by their stories and the support of indie distributors like A24, NEON, IFC Films, and Mubi. Here’s hoping they continue to push boundaries and give us the kind of originality movies desperately need, and I desperately want more of.