Abel Ferrara

b. 1951

With a half-century long career directing independent film, Abel Ferrara eternalised the gritty intensity of pre-2000s New York. Irish-Italian, he grew up in the Bronx and moved to Rome over 20 years ago. Formerly Catholic, now a Buddhist, spirituality remains integral to the visual language of Ferrara’s filmmaking.

Ferrara is best known for his use and redefinition of neo-noir imagery in films such as The Addiction (1995), Bad Lieutenant (1992), King of New York (1990), Ms .45 (1981), The Driller Killer (1979) and many others.