Clint Bentley | |
|---|---|
 Bentley in 2025 | |
| Born | January 1, 1985 Florida, United States |
| Alma mater | Stetson University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2016–present |
Clint Bentley (born January 1, 1985) is an American film director and screenwriter. His directorial credits include Jockey (2021) and Train Dreams (2025). For his work as a screenwriter, Bentley was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sing Sing (2023) and Train Dreams (2025).
Bentley was born on a cattle ranch in Florida. [1] He attended Stetson University and graduated in 2008. [2] [3]
In 2016, Bentley made his feature screenwriting debut with Transpecos , a film that follows U.S. border patrol agents who uncover a Mexican drug cartel plot. The script was co-written with director Greg Kwedar, who would ultimately become Bentley's long-time filmmaking partner. [3]
In 2023, Bentley was the co-writer and a producer for Sing Sing , a film based on the RTA program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York. At the 97th Academy Awards, the script, co-written with director Kwedar, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. [4]
In 2021, Bentley made his feature directorial debut with Jockey , inspired by his late father, who was a jockey and horse trainer. [5] The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize for Best Actor for Clifton Collins Jr. [6] After its debut, the film was acquired and distributed by Sony Picture Classics.
In 2025, Bentley directed Train Dreams , a film based on Denis Johnson's 2011 Pulitzer Prize-finalist novella, with a screenplay co-written by himself and Kwedar. [7] It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and was distributed by Netflix with a limited theatrical release. The film received critical acclaim, and picked up nominations for Best Feature and Best Adapted Screenplay for the upcoming 35th Gotham Film Awards. [8]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Transpecos | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2021 | Jockey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | Sing Sing | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2025 | Train Dreams | Yes | Yes | No |
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sing Sing | Nominated |
| March 15, 2026 | Train Dreams | Pending | ||
| BAFTA Awards | February 16, 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sing Sing | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | |
| January 4, 2026 | Train Dreams | Nominated | ||
| Film Independent Spirit Awards | March 6, 2022 | John Cassavetes Award | Jockey | Nominated |
| February 22, 2025 | Best Feature | Sing Sing | Nominated | |
| February 15, 2026 | Best Director | Train Dreams | Pending | |
| Gotham Awards | December 1, 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | January 26, 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sing Sing | Nominated |
| March 8, 2026 | Train Dreams | Pending |