Daniel Algrant, a talented filmmaker, was born on September 25th, 1959, in the vibrant city of New York. At a young age of 12, he moved to Cromwell, Connecticut, to live with his grandmother, where he continued his education.
Algrant's passion for filmmaking began to take shape during his four-year tenure at Phillips Academy Andover High School. He went on to attend Phillips Academy Andover, where he honed his skills and developed his unique filmmaking style.
In 1993, Algrant's first feature film, Naked in New York, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, boasted an impressive cast, including Eric Stolz, Mary-Louise Parker, Ralph Macchio, Tony Curtis, Kathleen Turner, Tim Dalton, and Whoopi Goldberg. The film received critical acclaim, winning the Critics Prize at the Deauville International Film Festival and competing at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The New York Times praised Naked in New York, stating that it was "as knowing and clever as it is charming." Following the success of his debut film, Algrant went on to direct episodes of the popular sitcom Sex and the City from 1999 to 2000.
In 2002, Algrant directed People I Know, a film starring Al Pacino, which tells the story of a veteran publicist battling addiction and alcoholism. Unfortunately, the film was embroiled in controversy before its premiere, as it depicted the World Trade Center as a metaphor for cultural corruption prior to the tragic attack that took place during editing.
The film also included a scene where a woman is forced to flee a man named Harvey in a limousine, which was intended as a reference to Harvey Weinstein's abusive behavior in the film industry. Weinstein eventually purchased the film, requested that the scene be removed, and stalled its global release.
In 2011, Algrant executive produced the documentary How to Grow a Band, which chronicles the early days of American progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers.
In 2012, Algrant co-wrote and directed Greetings from Tim Buckley, a film that depicts rock star Jeff Buckley's debut performance honoring his late father, Tim Buckley. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was bought by Focus World and Tribeca Pictures. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described the film as "heartfelt and deeply moving," while The Hollywood Reporter praised it as a "sensitive, well-cast film about father-son musicians Tim and Jeff Buckley."
The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising lead actor Penn Badgley's "vibrant break-out performance" and his "seductive energy." The film's cast, which included Imogen Poots, also received praise for their strong screen presence.
Throughout his career, Algrant has been a strong advocate for independent filmmakers, serving as Co-Chair of the Directors Guild of America East and the Independent Film Committee.
