**Richard Linklater** (1960) is an influential American film director, screenwriter, and producer, known for his naturalistic and conversational style, often focused on the passage of time and everyday life.

He gained recognition with independent films such as *Slacker* (1991), which defined a generation, and the generational cult classic *Dazed and Confused* (1993). His acclaimed *Before* trilogy (*Before Sunrise*, *Before Sunset*, *Before Midnight*), with intense and realistic dialogue, explores human relationships across decades.

His ambitious *Boyhood* (2014), filmed over 12 years to document a boy's growth, earned him widespread acclaim and Academy Award nominations. He has also experimented with rotoscope animation in *Waking Life* (2001) and *A Scanner Darkly* (2006). Linklater is celebrated for his ability to capture the authenticity of the human experience.