George Hickenlooper, director of 2010 TIFF gala Casino Jack (pictured), has died at age 47 of natural causes.

Hickenlooper – the creative behind the riveting documentary Hearts of Darkness and drama Factory Girl – had just premiered his Kevin Spacey-starrer the night before at the Austin Film Festival.

Casino Jack was written by Norman Snider and produced by Canuck Gary Howsam, Bill Marks and George Zakk. The film is due out in December.

The director’s cousin, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, said in a statement: “We are devastated. His passion for life, zeal for people and unquenchable curiosity enriched everyone who had the fortune to know him.”