Eric Eason is an American film director and screenwriter.

''Manito''

His first feature film '' Manito'' premiered at the 2002

Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...

where it won the Special Jury Prize and went on to win 16 awards on the International Festival Circuit including Best Film at the SXSW Film Festival, ''Best Emerging Filmmaker'' Award at the

Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...

and the Open Palm at New York's

Gotham Awards The Gotham Awards () are American film awards, presented annually to the makers of independent films at a ceremony in New York City, the city first nicknamed "Gotham" by native son Washington Irving, in an issue of ''Salmagundi'', published on ...

. In 2003 Eason was nominated for Best First Feature and the ''Someone to Watch Award'' at the

Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with Poly(methyl m ...

''Journey to the End of the Night''

Eason's second feature film, ''

Journey to the End of the Night ''Journey to the End of the Night'' (french: Voyage au bout de la nuit, 1932) is the first novel by Louis-Ferdinand Céline. This semi-autobiographical work follows the adventures of Ferdinand Bardamu in the World War I, colonial Africa, the Un ...

'', starring

Brendan Fraser Brendan James Fraser ( ; born December 3, 1968) is an American-Canadian actor known for his leading roles in blockbusters, comedies, and dramatic films. Having graduated from the Cornish College of the Arts in 1990, he made his film debut in '' ...

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

Alice Braga Alice Braga Moraes (; born 15 April 1983) is a Brazilian actress and producer. She has appeared in several Brazilian films, starring as Angélica in the acclaimed '' City of God'' (2002), Karinna in ''Lower City'' (2005), and Dolores in ''Only ...

Scott Glenn Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26) is an American actor. His roles have included Pfc Glenn Kelly in ''Nashville'' (1975), Wes Hightower in ''Urban Cowboy'' (1980), astronaut Alan Shepard in '' The Right Stuff'' (1983), Emmett in '' Silverado'' ...

and

Matheus Nachtergaele Matheus Nachtergaele (born 3 January 1968) is a Brazilian actor, director, and screenwriter. Career He has starred in numerous Brazilian films, best known for his appearances in the 1997 film ''Four Days in September'' and the 2002 film '' City ...

premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

''A Better Life''

On June 24, 2011, Summit Entertainment released ''

A Better Life ''A Better Life'' is a 2011 American drama film directed by Chris Weitz and written by Eric Eason. It is based on Roger L. Simon's story and follows an undocumented immigrant gardener and his son finding their rent-to-own truck. For his performa ...

'' a film written by Eric Eason and directed by

Chris Weitz Christopher John Weitz (born November 30, 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work with his brother Paul on the comedy films '' American Pie'' and '' About a Boy''; the latter earned the Weitz ...

that concerns the plight of an Illegal Mexican gardener in Los Angeles trying to give his son a brighter future and avoid deportation. The material seems to be a return to Eason's preoccupations with marginalized characters. ''A Better Life'' was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in the Best Actor category for

Demián Bichir Demián Bichir Nájera (; born 1 August 1963) is a Mexican actor. After starring in telenovelas, he began to appear in Hollywood films. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in ''A Better Life''. Personal life Bichi ...

, and the film won a National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Independent Films.

References

Living people American film directors American male screenwriters Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-film-director-stub