Wissenswertes

Originally meant to direct Borat: Kulturelle Lernung von Amerika um Benefiz für glorreiche Nation von Kasachstan zu machen (2006); however, he quit the production after shooting the infamous rodeo/"Star Spangled Banner" scene, due to creative differences with Sacha Baron Cohen.

He is the first director to receive an Oscar nomination for directing a comic book film.

Attended NYU Film School but dropped out before graduation to promote his first documentary Hated (1993).

Directed 1 actor to an Oscar win: Joaquin Phoenix, who won for Joker (2019).

Has cast Matt Walsh in most of his movies.

Frequently uses the music of Bill Withers and Wolfmother in his movies.

A co-creator of the New York Underground Film Festival (along with Andrew Gurland), Phillips was an expert at playing the media and causing sensation. He made a name for himself with Hated (1993) and latched on to the controversy surrounding the documentary ChickenHawk (1994).

His father Peter was born in Blaby, Leicestershire, England, to Jewish emigrant parents, Norbert E. Bunzl, who was born in Prague, and Anna (Fuchs), who was born in Zboriv, Ukraine.

He has directed one film that has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Joker (2019).

Attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts with Andrew Gurland.

Born on the same date as Nicole de Boer.