Michael Winterbottom
Michael Winterbottom is one of Britain\u2019s most prolific and eclectic film directors: his work encompasses political thrillers and pop culture, reworkings of classic novels and retelling real events.
He\u2019s made three films based on the novels of Thomas Hardy, including a version of Jude the Obscure with Christopher Eccleston and Kate Winslet.
He\u2019s worked extensively with Steve Coogan, starting in 2001 with 24 Hour Party People, in which Coogan played the Manchester music impresario Tony Wilson. More recently they\u2019ve made four series of the BAFTA award-winning series The Trip, in which Coogan and Rob Brydon tour restaurants in England, Italy, Spain and Greece.
Many of his films react to real-world events, including Welcome to Sarajevo and The Road to Guant\xe1namo. In 2022 he co-wrote and co-directed This England, a TV series about Boris Johnson\u2019s leadership during the Covid crisis, with Kenneth Branagh playing the former Prime Minister.
Michael\u2019s most recent film, Shoshana, is a political thriller set in the 1930s in what was then British Mandatory Palestine.
His music choices include Schumann, Bach and Philip Glass.