24. Jean Cocteau
One of the most versatile artists of the twentieth century, Jean Cocteau was all at once a famous painter, author, playwright, and designer. He wrote liberetos for Stravinsky operas and he wrote ballets with sets designed by Picasso but what matters here is that he was also one of the most important filmmakers of his time as well. Cocteau never considered himself more than an amateur filmmaker but his fantastical work of the 1940's are some of the most influential films of all-time in terms of visual style, set design, and atmosphere. Arguably his most famous film is La Belle et la Bête, a take on the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale which Roger Ebert has described as one of the most magical of all films. Cocteau's other lasting contribution, which sprang from his obsession with Greek mythology, was a trilogy revolving around the legend of Orpheus although it was reinterpreted to be set in then modern day France. Cocteau is often described as a cinematic poet, a visual trickster, and one of the first prominent avant-garde filmmakers. His surreal imagery has been endlessly copied and his films were some of the first to incorporate fantastical elements.