Clint Bentley (born January 1, 1985) is an American film director and screenwriter. His directorial credits include Jockey (2021) and Train Dreams (2025). For his work as a screenwriter, Bentley was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sing Sing (2023) and Train Dreams.
Early life and education Bentley was born on a cattle ranch in Florida. He attended Stetson University and graduated in 2008.
Career
As a screenwriter In 2016, Bentley made his feature screenwriting debut with Transpecos, a film that follows U.S. border patrol agents who uncover a Mexican drug cartel plot. The script was co-written with director Greg Kwedar, who would ultimately become Bentley's long-time filmmaking partner.
In 2023, Bentley was the co-writer and a producer for Sing Sing, a film based on the RTA program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York. At the 97th Academy Awards, the script, co-written with director Kwedar, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
As a director In 2021, Bentley made his feature directorial debut with Jockey, inspired by his late father, who was a jockey and horse trainer. The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize for Best Actor for Clifton Collins Jr. After its debut, the film was acquired and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.
In 2025, Bentley directed Train Dreams, a film based on Denis Johnson's 2011 Pulitzer Prize-finalist novella, with a screenplay co-written by himself and Kwedar. It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and was distributed by Netflix with a limited theatrical release. The film received critical acclaim, and picked up nominations for Best Feature and Best Adapted Screenplay for the 35th Gotham Film Awards.
Filmography YearTitleDirectorWriterProducer 2016 Transpecos 2021 Jockey 2023 Sing Sing 2025 Train Dreams
Accolades AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNominated workResultAcademy AwardsMarch 2, 2025Best Adapted ScreenplaySing SingMarch 15, 2026Train DreamsBAFTA AwardsFebruary 16, 2025Best Adapted ScreenplaySing SingCritics' Choice Movie AwardsJanuary 12, 2025Best Adapted ScreenplayJanuary 4, 2026Train DreamsFilm Independent Spirit AwardsMarch 6, 2022John Cassavetes AwardJockeyFebruary 22, 2025Best FeatureSing SingFebruary 15, 2026Best DirectorTrain DreamsGotham AwardsDecember 1, 2025Best Adapted ScreenplaySatellite AwardsJanuary 26, 2025Best Adapted ScreenplaySing SingMarch 8, 2026Train Dreams
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