David Andalman

David Andalman—yeah, the guy with a knack for capturing all the weirdness and raw charm of American youth—came into the world on July 14th, right smack in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Not exactly Hollywood, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. His name really started buzzing when “American Milkshake” dropped in 2013—his first feature film. The thing actually hit Sundance, which is pretty wild, and none other than Kevin Smith piped up, calling it “Welcome to the Dollhouse for fly guys.” That’s not your average compliment, and honestly, he wasn’t wrong. The movie’s packed with offbeat laughs, awkward moments, and more than a few scenes that’ll make you squirm and crack up at the same time. But Andalman’s not a one-hit wonder or anything. He’s got “Jack” (2016), “Takoma Park” (2008), and “The Braggart” (2005) under his belt too, each one adding a little more flavor to his reputation. His stories don’t shy away from the messy, complicated stuff—he just dives right into it, no sugarcoating. That’s probably why he’s landed spots at the Tribeca Film Festival and even the Whitney Biennial, which is kind of a big deal for any director trying to do something different. What’s cool about Andalman is he manages to blend biting humor with this almost painful honesty about growing up and messing up. You can tell he’s not afraid to poke fun at his characters, but there’s always a bit of heart mixed in. He’s got his own lane, for sure, and if you haven’t checked out his films, you’re seriously missing out.