Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an American filmmaker. His films are noted for their surreal, melodramatic, and often disturbing elements, frequently in the form of psychological fiction. Over his career, he has received a Primetime Emmy Award. He has been nominated for several awards including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Aronofsky studied film and social anthropology at Harvard University before studying directing at the AFI Conservatory. After completing his senior thesis film, Supermarket Sweep, he won several film awards, becoming a National Student Academy Award finalist. In 1997, he founded the film and TV production company Protozoa Pictures. His feature film debut, the surrealist psychological thriller Pi (1998), earned him the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.
