Daniel Scheinert
Co-director of Swiss Army Man and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Daniel Scheinert (born June 7, 1987) is an American filmmaker best known as half of the directing duo 'the Daniels' alongside Daniel Kwan. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised by parents Becky and Ken Scheinert, he graduated from Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School in 2004 before studying film at Emerson College, where he met Kwan (he graduated in 2009). The pair launched their career with music videos like 'Turn Down for What' (2013) and 'Houdini' (2012), earning Grammy nominations. They transitioned to features with Swiss Army Man (2016), winning the Directing Award at Sundance, and followed with Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The latter became A24's then-highest-grossing film, securing them Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
- Role
- Director / Writer / Producer
- Creative Partnership
- Daniels (with Daniel Kwan)
- Key Distributor
- A24 Films
- Breakout Feature
- Swiss Army Man
- Major Achievement
- Academy Award for Best Director
- Status
- Active
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Scheinert’s journey began in Birmingham, Alabama, leading him to Emerson College in Boston, where he graduated in 2009. There, he met Daniel Kwan, who graduated a year later in 2010. Their early work defined the duo's reputation: directing music videos for Foster the People and DJ Snake & Lil Jon, which earned Grammy nominations. In 2016, they expanded to features with Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, winning the Directing Award at Sundance. Scheinert also directed The Death of Dick Long (2019) solo. Their partnership evolved into a global community in 2018 when Kwan co-founded 'We Direct Music Videos' to advocate for sustainable labor practices. By 2024, they had directed an episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and were developing a high-concept comedy with Paul Dano.
In Their Own Story
The duo’s ascent was marked by specific milestones: in 2016, Swiss Army Man premiered to positive reviews and a Sundance directing win. By March 2022, Everything Everywhere All at Once arrived, starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis. It garnered 11 Academy Award nominations—the most of any film that year—and won seven, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Prior to the ceremony, IGN noted it had surpassed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King as the most awarded film ever. Scheinert’s involvement extended beyond directing; he contributed to the black comedy-drama The Death of Dick Long (2019), which also premiered at Sundance. In 2024, they directed a Star Wars episode and announced a future feature scheduled for June 12, 2026, later delayed due to Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day.
Reader's Guide
A24 became the cornerstone of Scheinert and Kwan’s career, distributing Swiss Army Man (2016) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The studio supported their risk-taking vision, enabling them to win the Directing Award at Sundance for their debut feature. In 2022, they signed a first-look TV deal with A24 and a five-year film deal with Universal Pictures. Their work on Everything Everywhere All at Once redefined what independent cinema could achieve commercially and critically, earning seven Oscars. Scheinert’s solo credit on The Death of Dick Long (2019) further showcased his versatility. In 2025, they announced producing a Paul Dano script for Universal, with filming set to begin in Los Angeles in summer 2026 starring Matt Damon.
Did You Know?
- Daniel Scheinert graduated from Emerson College in 2009, one year before Daniel Kwan.
- He directed the black comedy-drama The Death of Dick Long (2019) solo, which premiered at Sundance.
- Scheinert and Kwan were on the Time 100 Next list in 2022.
- Their film Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
- In June 2025, they announced a high-concept comedy for Universal Pictures that will begin shooting in summer 2026 with Matt Damon.
More in History & Legacy
Elsewhere in the A24 Films universe
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