In 2023, the first "Director's Choice" selection included two masterpieces by Michael Cimino, who is widely considered 'the greatest architect of American cinema and a remarkable innovator'. Born in New York in 1939, Cimino began his career as a screenwriter in Hollywood and made his directorial debut in 1975 with "Thunderbolt and Lightfood," which became a commercial success. His second film, "The Deer Hunter," was highly controversial but earned critical acclaim, winning several major awards at the Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actor. This success allowed Cimino to pursue his dream project, "Heaven's Gate," depicting the conflict between vested farmers and immigrant workers in the American West in the 1890s. Despite its high production cost, the more than three-hour film was a box office disappointment and ultimately led to the bankruptcy of its production company, United Artists. Afterwards, Cimino directed several other films including "The Sicilian," "Desperate Hours," and "The Sunchaser," but ultimately went through a period of short-lived happiness and long-standing misfortune, much like the characters in his films.