11. Carl Theodor Dreyer
Dreyer was one of the first filmmakers to look at the medium as an art instead of a trade and a business, the result was some of the most impressive films of the silent era and really of any era. After several unspectacular silent films in the early 20's, Dreyer created one of the all-time great silent films with 1928's The Passion of Joan of Arc, a masterpiece of acting, set design, and atmosphere. His next classic was 1932's Vampyr, which has had an indelible impact on the horror genre. Due to the box office failure of both, Dreyer only directed films intermittently for the rest of his life but he still managed to make several more significant films including Ordet in 1955. Dreyer was one of the first directors to tap into the potential of the cinematic medium, experimenting with all kinds of techniques and creating some of the most indelible images of that period of film history. His emphasis on spirituality, psychology, and philosophy was groundbreaking for films of the time and has kept him a favorite of critics even today. Although his output was relatively small, few directors have been more revered and respected than Carl Theodor Dreyer.