The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 psychological horror film directed by Jonathan Demme. It is based on Thomas Harris' 1988 novel of the same name and stars Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The film follows Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee who is tasked with interviewing the brilliant but dangerous Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, in order to gain insight into the mind of another serial killer. The Silence of the Lambs won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.