Directors
Director and script writer, he began his career writing and directing a short film, Struggle, in 2002, the same year in which he entered into partnership with Anna Boden. This association yielded, among others, an award-winning documental short film Have You Seen This Man? (2003). Gowanus, Brooklyn (2004) was awarded the Prize for Best Short Film at the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary, Young Rebels (2005), a co-production between the United States and Cuba, was the first feature directed by Ryan (with Boden). Half Nelson, his second film, was awarded the Special Prize from the Jury and Special Mention from the Young Jury at the 2006 Locarno Film Festival, in addition to different prizes at the following festivals: San Francisco (Prize from the Foreign Press), Seattle (for Actor), Philadelphia (Directing), and Nantucket (Script).