Daniel Kwan
Co-director of Swiss Army Man and the multi-Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Daniel Kwan (born February 10, 1988) is an American filmmaker known collectively as one half of the directing duo 'the Daniels' alongside Daniel Scheinert. Born in Westborough, Massachusetts to a Taiwanese mother and a father from Hong Kong, he graduated from Emerson College in 2010 after meeting his partner there. Kwan first gained recognition directing music videos, including Foster the People's "Houdini" (2012) and DJ Snake and Lil Jon's "Turn Down for What" (2013), both earning Grammy nominations. He co-wrote and directed the feature films Swiss Army Man (2016) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The latter became A24's then-highest-grossing film, winning Kwan Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
Quick Facts
- Occupation
- Film directors
- screenwriters
- producers
- Years active
- 2007–present
- Education
- Emerson College (BFA)
- Spouse
- Kwan: Kirsten Lepore (2016)
- Children
- Kwan: 1
- Notable works
- Swiss Army Man; Everything Everywhere All at Once
Lore & Background
Kwan’s creative journey began in the music video scene before expanding to feature films with Swiss Army Man (2016), starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. This debut earned the duo the Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. His collaboration with A24 deepened as they tackled absurdist comedy-dramas that defied conventional genre boundaries. In 2017, Kwan announced plans to write, direct, and produce a science-fiction film with partner Jonathan Wang and the Russo brothers, resulting in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Released in March 2022, the film starred Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis. It garnered widespread critical acclaim and became A24's highest-grossing release at the time. The project received 11 Academy Award nominations, more than any other film that year, and won seven. Prior to the ceremony, IGN calculated it had surpassed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as the most awarded film of all time.
Reader's Guide
For filmmakers and fans tracking the Daniels' trajectory with A24, understanding their partnership timeline is key. In 2022, they signed a first-look TV deal with A24 and a separate five-year film deal with Universal Pictures. That same year, both were named to the Time 100 Next list. Their next project involves producing a "high-concept comedy" written and potentially directed by Paul Dano for Universal Pictures. Reports indicate this film will begin shooting in Los Angeles in the summer of 2026 and star Matt Damon. Kwan's personal life also intersects with his work; he has been married to filmmaker and animator Kirsten Lepore since 2016, and they have one son together. He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after researching the condition for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Did You Know?
- Everything Everywhere All at Once received 11 Academy Award nominations, more than any other film in 2022, and won seven awards.
- Kwan co-founded We Direct Music Videos (W.D.M.V.) in 2018 to promote sustainable directorial labor practices.
- Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert met while studying film at Emerson College in Boston.
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Elsewhere in A24 Films
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