Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino, an Academy Award nominee for Best Director for "Inglourious Basterds," arrives at the Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.

Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is a World War II film that focuses on two plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler - one planned by a French Jewish theater owner and another by a group of guerrilla U.S. soldiers who scalp Nazis.

Tarantino's career took off when his film "Reservoir Dogs" debuted at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. He's gone on to direct hits such as "Pulp Fiction," "Jackie Brown," "Kill Bill" (which was released as two films) and "Inglourious Basterds."

In 1994 Tarantino wrote and directed the film "Pulp Fiction." He won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for the film. He was also nominated for Best Director for the film, but lost to Robert Zemeckis, who directed "Forrest Gump."

Tarantino is nominated for a 2010 Academy Award for Best Director and for Best Screenplay for his film "Inglourious Basterds." The film is nominated for eight Oscars in all, including Best Picture.

Quentin Tarantino poses with director Sofia Coppola in 2004. In 2003 and 2004, Tarantino wrote and directed "Kill Bill: Volume 1" and "Kill Bill: Volume 2." A third volume has been announced for release in 2014.

Quentin Tarantino has acted as a director, screenwriter, actor and producer throughout his career. He appears in almost every film he directs.

Quentin Tarantino is shown here with his friend Robert Rodriguez, also a writer and director. In 2007 the two co-wrote "Grindhouse," a double feature horror film. "Death Proof" was written by Tarantino, "Planet Terror" by Rodriguez. Tarantino appeared in both films.

Quentin Tarantino has solidified himself as one of the most talented and most eclectic people in Hollywood. He began his directing career with "Reservoir Dogs," which was released in 1992. He directed, wrote and acted in the film. Two years later he won an Oscar for "Pulp Fiction."

Director Quentin Tarantino arrives at the British Academy Film Awards 2010 at The Royal Opera House in London, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010. Tarantino is nominated for two Oscars for his film "Inglourious Basterds," Best Director and Best Screenplay.