Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese is a film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and film historian whose career spans more than 50 years. Scorsese has directed more than 26 feature-length narrative films and 17 feature-length documentary films, establishing a signature style characterized by innovative camera work, editing, and the use of soundtracks to comment on the action. His films often explore themes of violence and the inner moral struggles of characters, contributing to his influence in the film industry and the evolution of American cinema.

Scorsese's career gained momentum with the crime drama "Mean Streets," which introduced his trademarks of dark themes, morally complex characters, and a distinctive use of contemporary music. He directed "Taxi Driver," starring Robert De Niro, which was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Scorsese also directed De Niro in "Raging Bull," which received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. His work in the crime genre continued with films such as "Goodfellas," "Cape Fear," and "Casino." In subsequent years, Scorsese directed epic films including "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," and "The Departed," the latter of which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Scorsese has received 10 nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director, making him the most-nominated living director and second all-time only to William Wyler. His accolades include an Academy Award, four BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. He has been recognized with honors such as the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute, the Kennedy Center Honor, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the BAFTA Fellowship. Scorsese received the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement at the Berlin International Film Festival. His film "Killers of the Flower Moon" was nominated for 10 Oscars, making him the oldest Best Director nominee in history.

Beyond directing, Scorsese has contributed to film preservation. He established The Film Foundation to protect and preserve motion picture history, working with archives and studios to restore over 1,000 films. The foundation's educational curriculum, "The Story of Movies," has taught more than 10 million young people about film language and history. Scorsese also created the World Cinema Project to preserve and provide access to films from around the world, restoring and exhibiting works from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.

Scorsese remains active in filmmaking and film advocacy. He presented "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints" for Fox Nation, served as executive producer for "The Freshly Cut Grass," and began work on a documentary about Mediterranean shipwrecks near Sicily. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily. In 2026, he was the subject of the Apple TV documentary series "Mr. Scorsese." Scorsese continues to be a significant figure in world cinema, contributing as a storyteller, historian, and advocate for film preservation and education.