One among the most unconventional and innovative filmmakers working in contemporary cinema, Sean Baker is an American director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer. He announced his arrival in Hollywood with the indie comedy Four Letter Words (2000), which he wrote, directed and edited. This was followed by the acclaimed indie dramas Take Out (2004) and Prince of Broadway (2008), which were both nominated for the John Cassavetes` Independent Spirit Award.

In 2012, Baker co-wrote, co-produced and directed Starlet, which told the story of an unlikely friendship between the young Jane and the 85-year-old Sadie. The film opened to positive reviews, and won the the Robert Altman Independent Spirit Award that year. Baker`s next venture, the comedy-drama Tangerine (2014), was shot on iPhone and told the story of a transgender sex worker who sets out to find her boyfriend after discovering that he has been cheating on her. Tangerine opened to near-universal critical acclaim and won several accolades, including the Audience Award at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

In 2017, Baker co-wrote and directed the drama film The Florida Project, which was named by National Board of Review and American Film Institute in their annual Top Ten list. The movie, which starred Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite in the lead roles, also won several awards at film festivals around the world and has been widely hailed as a modern classic.