Biography
Forman earned international acclaim with films like "Black Peter" (1964), "Loves of a Blonde" (1965) and "The Fireman's Ball" (1967), all of which marked a distinct thematic and stylistic break with the prior generation of Czechoslovakian filmmaking that played a major role in shaping that country's cinematic New Wave of the 1960s. After leaving Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia following the Prague Spring in 1968, Forman embarked on a successful …
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Career Milestones
| Began pre-production on "Disclosure"; withdrew from film in the fall of 1993 (eventually replaced by Barry Levinson) | ||
| Collaborated on script of Martin Fric's feature comedy, "Leave It to Me" (1955) while still a student at FAMU | ||
| Directed a failed play for the NY stage | ||
| Joined theater group Laterna Magika (Magic Lantern) as an assistant writer; worked with Alfred Radok on presentations that mixed film with live actors to be performed for the Brussels World Fair | ||
| Raised by two uncles and one family of friends of his parents after parents were arrested | ||
| Worked on unproduced film, "Hell Camp", about Americans in Japan | ||
1945 | Became a film buff after the occupation ended | |
1950 | Enrolled in newly founded Film Institute at the University of Prague (FAMU) | |
1950 | While a senior at Dejvice high school, organized a drama club and staged an avant-garde musical about Francois Villon which toured small halls near Prague | |
1954 | Directed documentaries for Czech TV | |
1956 | First onscreen appearance in Alfred Radok's "Old Man Motorcar" | |
1957 | Wrote and was assistant director on Ivo Novak's film, "Puppies" | |
1963 | Feature film directing debut with "Cerny Petr/Black Peter" | |
1963 | Medium-length 16mm semi-documentary directing debut with "Konkurs/Competition"; Forman's first collaboration with Ivan Passar and cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek | |
1967 | Made first trip to the US; negotiated to make first US feature; wanted to produce a film adaptation of the stage musical "Hair", but rights were not available | |
1968 | Was in Paris at time of Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia in August and the fall of the Dubcek regime in September and stayed there until moving to New York in 1969 | |
1971 | Made first US film, "Taking Off" | |
1971 | Subject of Mira Weingarten's documentary short, "Meeting Milos Forman" | |
1972 | Contributing director for "Visions of Eight" (documentary covering Munich Olympics) | |
1973 | Was suffering from acute depression when approached by producers Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas to direct film adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" | |
1975 | Directed breakthrough US feature, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"; won first Oscar as Best Director | |
1975 | Named co-director of Columbia University film division | |
1977 | Became a US citizen (November 30) | |
1978 | Made professor, Columbia University film division | |
1979 | Helmed adaptation of stage musical "Hair" | |
1981 | Directed "Ragtime"; convinced James Cagney to come out of retirement to play final screen role | |
1984 | Reteamed with producer Saul Zaentz to direct the film adaptation of Peter Shaffer's "Amadeus"; returned to Czechoslovakia for the first time since 1968 to film on location; earned second Oscar as Best Director | |
1986 | Made US acting debut in small role in Mike Nichols' "Heartburn" | |
1989 | Acted in Henry Jaglom's "New Year's Day" | |
1989 | Last film released for seven years, "Valmont" | |
1989 | Was subject of a segment of the PBS series "American Masters" | |
1996 | Returned to feature directing with "The People vs. Larry Flynt," based on the life of the publisher of Hustler magazine | |
1999 | Helmed "Man on the Moon", the biopic of comedian Andy Kaufman starring Jim Carrey | |
2000 | Co-starred with Edward Norton in the actor's directorial debut "Keeping the Faith," as the wise friend to Norton's young, conflicted priest | |
2007 | Executive produced "Nomad," a historical epic set in 18th-century Kazakhstan | |
2007 | Helmed "Goya's Ghosts," a film about Spanish grand master Francisco de Goya starring Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman | |
Awards
1964 | Locarno International Film Festival for Golden Sail in Black Peter |
1971 | BAFTA Award for Direction in Taking Off |
1971 | BAFTA Award for Screenplay in Taking Off |
1971 | Cannes Film Festival for Jury's Special Grand Prix Ex-aequo in Taking Off |
1975 | Academy Award for Directing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1976 | BAFTA Award for Direction in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1981 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Ragtime |
1984 | Academy Award for Directing in Amadeus |
1984 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Amadeus |
1984 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Amadeus |
1984 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director in Amadeus |
1985 | BAFTA Award for Film in Amadeus |
1996 | Academy Award for Directing in The People vs. Larry Flynt |
1996 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in The People vs. Larry Flynt |
1996 | National Board of Review Award for Freedom of Expression in The People vs. Larry Flynt |
1997 | Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema |
2000 | Berlin International Film Festival for Silver Bear for Best Director in Man on the Moon |
2000 | Palm Springs International Film Festival for Director's Achievement Award |