Zach Nutman

Zach Nutman is one of those names that might not set off fireworks in your brain just yet, but hang on, he’s quietly building a pretty wild portfolio. You might’ve caught his work in “Babygirl” (2024)—that one where you think you know what’s going to happen, but then it just yanks the rug out from under you. Nutman has this knack for nailing the messy, awkward, painfully real moments between people, not just the glossy, scripted stuff you see in so many flicks. “Peaked” is another one under his belt, digging into that weird, uncomfortable territory of growing up and realizing you might’ve already hit your high point, which, let’s be honest, is both hilarious and a little bit tragic. Then there’s “The Moment,” which, true to its name, doesn’t waste time with fluff—just dives headfirst into those split seconds that change everything. What really stands out about Nutman’s stuff is that he doesn’t sugarcoat; he gives you characters so raw and flawed you almost feel like you’re eavesdropping on real life. His stories aren’t afraid of going dark or poking fun at the hard stuff. If you’re after movies that ditch the cliché and hit you with something that actually feels honest, this is a director to keep an eye on. Nutman’s not playing it safe, and man, it’s refreshing for once.