Alejandro González Iñárritu

Hailing from Mexico, director Alejandro González Iñárritu gained artistic respect and numerous awards across the world, thanks to creating often bleak, but powerfully emotional films. With his first feature film, the much lauded and decorated "Amores Perros" ("Love's A Bitch") (2001), González Iñárritu made an immediate impact on the film world as a director capable of creating a visceral reaction with audiences while challenging their notions of morality. Moving over to Hollywood, he directed the equally praised "21 Grams" (2003), a stark drama that dwelled on the myriad consequences of a tragic death that at once gave few easy answers while offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. Having proved that he was a worthy talent, González Iñárritu delivered his most thought-provoking - and to some, perplexing - film with "Babel" (2006), a heartbreaking tale of love, loss and fear of the unknown. Along with longtime friends and filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro, González Iñárritu ushered in a new wave of Mexican filmmakers who were taking Hollywood by storm. In fact, it was González Iñárritu who became the first-ever Mexican director to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. By the time he directed his fourth acclaimed film, "Biutiful" (2010), González Iñárritu had established himself as one of the most compelling directors to emerge from south of the border. He secured that status with his next films, "Birdman" (2014), a surreal comedy-drama that won Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards, and "The Revenant" (2015), a thriller with a philosophical basis starring Leonardo DiCaprio, for which Iñárritu won Best Director.