Barry Gifford

Barry Gifford is a novelist, poet and screenwriter whose work moves between literary fiction and cinema. He is particularly associated with the Sailor and Lula novels, including Wild at Heart, which David Lynch adapted into the film that won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1990. His film credits also include Lost Highway, City of Ghosts and The Phantom Father.

Gifford's writing extends to poetry, nonfiction and opera librettos, including work with composers Toru Takemitsu, Ichiro Nodaira and Olga Neuwirth. Books such as Night People and the Roy stories sit alongside his screen work, linking independent American literature with the imagery and narrative possibilities of film.