Andrew DeYoung (director)

DeYoung was born in 1981 or 1982,^[6] and raised in Fresno, California.^[7] He studied screenwriting at California State University, Northridge and graduated in 2005.^[8]

DeYoung is inspired by filmmaker Terrence Malick,^[9] who wrote a heartwarming letter to DeYoung before Friendship's SXSW premiere.^[10]

DeYoung began his directing career after college, and met comedians John Early and Kate Berlant in improv classes.^[3] He directed Early and Berlant in the short film Santa Monica and the Emmy-nominated special Would It Kill You to Laugh?.^[2] DeYoung continued directing episodes of various comedic television series.^[11]

DeYoung thought of the idea for Friendship after a negative experience with a colleague.^[12][13] DeYoung decided on casting his friend Tim Robinson while writing the film's screenplay,^[14] whom he had first met at the wedding of Conner O'Malley and Aidy Bryant, the former of which also appears in Friendship.^[15] The film was shot in Yonkers, New York, with actors Kate Mara and Paul Rudd joining the main cast.^[16][17] The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and was the second runner up for the People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness.^[18] A24 acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film,^[19] and the film was theatrically released on May 9, 2025.^[20] It was positively reviewed and went on to be nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy and the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.^[4][5]

In 2025, DeYoung continuted his collaboration with Robinson by directing multiple episodes and serving as an executive producer on The Chair Company, starring and co-written by Robinson, with DeYoung's direction being positively reviewed by critics.^[1][21]