David Zellner Biography: Age, Parents, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Siblings, Awards, Spouse
David Zellner is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, editor, and actor. He is particularly known for his distinctive independent films, often created with his younger brother Nathan Zellner.
His best-known directing credits include Kid-Thing, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, Damsel, and Sasquatch Sunset.
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| Name: | David Zellner |
| Born: | November 13, 1973 (age 52 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Greeley, Colorado, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | American |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Ronald David Zellner and Mrs. Zellner |
| Siblings: | Nathan Zellner |
| Occupation: | Filmmaker, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Editor, Actor |
| Net Worth: | $3 million |
Early Life and Education
David Zellner was born on November 13, 1973, in Greeley, Colorado. He was raised by Ronald David Zellner and Mrs. Zellner. His ethnicity is American, and he has a younger brother, Nathan Zellner, who would later become his longtime filmmaking collaborator.
His religion is Christianity. Zellner studied film at the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Radio-Television-Film before beginning his independent filmmaking career.
Career
David Zellner began his professional filmmaking career in the 1990s after studying film and developing an interest in independent cinema. In 1997, he directed Plastic Utopia, his first feature film, while also serving as writer, producer, and editor.
He made the film alongside his brother Nathan, establishing the creative partnership that would become known as the Zellner Bros.
The brothers continued making unusual independent productions, with David taking on directing and writing responsibilities while Nathan frequently worked as an actor, producer, cinematographer, and collaborator.
Their second feature, Frontier, followed in 2001, and they continued producing short films throughout the 2000s. Their work began attracting attention on the international festival circuit, including Sundance.
In 2008, Zellner directed Goliath, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He followed it with Kid-Thing in 2012, a darkly comic drama that premiered at Sundance and later screened internationally. The film won Best Film at the 2012 Gen Art Film Festival and further established Zellner as a distinctive voice in independent filmmaking.
His biggest breakthrough came with Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter in 2014. Zellner directed and co-wrote the film with Nathan and also appeared in it as a deputy.
Starring Rinko Kikuchi, the film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance and later played at the Berlin International Film Festival. Zellner won the Best Director Jury Prize at the Fantasia International Film Festival, while the film received Independent Spirit Award nominations.
David Zellner and Nathan subsequently directed Damsel, a Western comedy-drama starring Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska. David also wrote the screenplay and appeared as Parson Henry.
The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and continued the brothers’ reputation for combining unconventional storytelling with deadpan humor and unusual characters.
He continued acting in other filmmakers’ projects, including Riley Stearns’ The Art of Self-Defense in 2019. Zellner also appeared in productions such as Beeswax, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, and Faults, demonstrating that his career extends beyond directing and writing.
In 2024, Zellner reunited with his brother for Sasquatch Sunset, an absurdist fantasy drama starring Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner. David wrote the film and co-directed it with Nathan.
The film premiered at Sundance in January 2024 and became one of the brothers’ most ambitious productions.
David Zellner has also continued developing new projects with Nathan, including Alpha Gang, a science-fiction comedy about extraterrestrials. Across his career, he has maintained a distinctive independent filmmaking style characterized by surrealism, dark comedy, eccentric characters, and unconventional narratives.
Awards and Nominations
- Fantasia International Film Festival — Best Director Jury Prize, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
- Gen Art Film Festival — Best Film, Kid-Thing
- Independent Spirit Awards — nominations for Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
- Sundance Film Festival — multiple selections for his short and feature films
Personal Life
David Zellner, 52 years old, is currently single and is not married. There is no information about his past relationships.
He has no publicly known children and has spent much of his personal and professional life in Austin, Texas, where he has been based with his younger brother Nathan for more than two decades. The brothers have maintained a close creative partnership throughout their careers. His height is unknown.
Net Worth
David Zellner’s net worth is $3 million USD. His income comes from directing, screenwriting, producing, editing, acting, and other filmmaking work.
His career earnings include Plastic Utopia, Goliath, Kid-Thing, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, Damsel, and Sasquatch Sunset.
Filmography
- Sasquatch Sunset
- Damsel
- Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
- Kid-Thing
- Goliath
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