Clint Bentley

Last updated
Clint Bentley
Born (1985-01-01) January 1, 1985 (age 40)
Florida, United States
Alma mater Stetson University
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2016–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 nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sing Sing (2023).

Contents

Early life and education

Bentley was born on a cattle ranch in Florida. [1] He attended Stetson University and graduated in 2008. [2] [3]

Career

As a screenwriter

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]

As a director

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]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2016 Transpecos NoYesYesCo-written with Greg Kwedar
2021 Jockey YesYesYesCo-written with Kwedar
2023 Sing Sing NoYesYesCo-written with Kwedar
2025 Train Dreams YesYesNoCo-written with Kwedar

References

  1. ↑ "Dallas Screenwriter Clint Bentley's Emotional Journey to Sing Sing". Dallas Observer. 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  2. ↑ "'Train Dreams' Co-Writers Weren't Going to Watch Their Oscar Nominations for 'Sing Sing,' Then Decided: 'Don't Be an Idiot' | Stetson University". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  3. 1 2 Gomez-Misserian, Gabriela (2022-02-04). "Get to Know Jockey Director—and Florida Native—Clint Bentley". Garden & Gun. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  4. ↑ Blyth, Antonia (2025-02-13). "The Partnership: 'Sing Sing' Filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley On The True Story That Changed Them Forever & Their Plan To Save Independent Film". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  5. ↑ Cohen, Jason (2022-02-17). "The Human Cost of Horse Racing". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  6. ↑ "Clint Bentley - Sundance Collab". collab.sundance.org. Archived from the original on 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  7. ↑ Simon, Scott (2025-11-15). "Director and co-writer Clint Bentley talks about his film, 'Train Dreams'". NPR. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (2025-10-28). "Gotham Film Awards Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads With a Record Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
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