David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His early directing career includes works such as Spanking the Monkey (1994), Flirting with Disaster (1996), Three Kings (1999), and I Heart Huckabees (2004).Russell's three most recent films were critically acclaimed and commercial hits: The Fighter (2010), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and American Hustle (2013). These films have earned Russell three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, as well as a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Silver Linings Playbook and a Best Original Screenplay nomination for American Hustle.He received the BAFTA  Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2014.