Jon Amiel's professional journey began with a degree in English literature from Cambridge University, where he was actively involved in the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company, often touring the United States.
Following his time with the Shakespeare Company, Amiel became the literary manager of the Hampstead Theatre Company, where he started directing productions, and later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amiel worked at the BBC as a story editor, honed his skills in television directing, and gained recognition for his work.
In 1985, Amiel's docudrama, The Silent Twins, premiered, based on the true story of the Gibbons twins who only spoke to each other. The film received international acclaim and was selected for the Locarno and Montreal Film Festivals.
Notably, Amiel was working on The Silent Twins when he was given the six scripts of The Singing Detective by Kenith Trodd. The film received widespread acclaim, and Amiel's feature film debut, Queen of Hearts, premiered at Cannes, won several awards, including Best First Film at the Montreal Festival and Best British Feature Film Award at the Birmingham Festival.
Amiel's subsequent films include Tune in Tomorrow..., based on Mario Vargas Llosa's Aunt Julia And The Scriptwriter, which won the Prix Publique at the Deauville Festival, followed by the period drama Sommersby, the thriller Copycat, The Man Who Knew Too Little, Entrapment, and The Core, marking his transition into action-adventure films.
Jon Amiel's illustrious career spans multiple genres, from drama to thriller, and has garnered numerous accolades, solidifying his position as a renowned director in the film industry.
