Damien Chazelle is an American director and screenwriter. His directorial debut was the musical Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009), his breakthrough came when he wrote and directed his second feature film, Whiplash (2014), which was based on his award-winning 2013 short film of the same name. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Chazelle.

In 2016 his film La La Land received critical and commercial acclaim, winning all 7 of its Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It also received a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations, winning six including Best Director for Chazelle who became the youngest person in history to win a Oscar for Best Director at the age of 32.

Chazelle also co-wrote 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016).