Contemporary French Language Directors
by AltonMann | created - 13 Nov 2011 | updated - 11 Feb 2013 | PublicThese are key directors from France. I have recommended 12 films (no more than 1 per director) with a notation * as a good introduction to French film. For directors whose films I've yet to see, I've listed those films rated most highly in IMDB. Note that the biographies for each director below are from their IMDB page. I provided the selected list of titles for each director.
1. Patrice Leconte
Director | Ridicule
Patrice Leconte was born on November 12, 1947 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for Ridicule (1996), La fille sur le pont (1999) and Man on the Train (2002).
b 1947 Ridicule (1996) * Man on the Train (2002) Girl on the Bridge (1999) The Widow of Saint-Pierre (2000) Monsieur Hire (1989)
2. Laurent Cantet
Director | Entre les murs
Laurent Cantet was born on April 11, 1961 in Melle, Deux-Sèvres, France. He is a director and writer, known for The Class (2008), Human Resources (1999) and Time Out (2001).
b 1961 Time Out (2001) * The Class (2008) Human Resources (1999) Les sanguinaires (1997) Heading South (2005)
3. Agnès Jaoui
Actress | Le goût des autres
Agnès Jaoui was born on October 19, 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and writer, known for The Taste of Others (2000), Look at Me (2004) and Family Resemblances (1996). She was previously married to Jean-Pierre Bacri.
b. 1964 Look at Me (2004) * Parlez-moi de la pluie (2008) The Taste of Others (2000)
4. Bertrand Tavernier
Director | Un dimanche à la campagne
Bertrand Tavernier was the son of Geneviève (Dumond) and René Tavernier, who was a publicist, writer, and president of the French PEN club. He was a law student that preferred write film criticisms. He also wrote a few books about American movies. Then his first film won a few awards in France and ...
b. 1941 Life and Nothing But (1989) * It All Starts Today (1999) 'Round Midnight (1986) The Clockmaker of St. Paul (1974) Safe Conduct (2002)
5. Jacques Audiard
Writer | De rouille et d'os
Born in Paris, France, in 1952. Jacques Audiard's family has always been involved in movie business. His father, Michel, was a popular screenwriter and director and his uncle a producer. But in his teens he refused that world and wanted to be a teacher. He studied literature and philosophy at the ...
b 1952 A Prophet (2009) * Read My Lips (2001) Rust and Bone (2012) See How They Fall (1994) A Self-Made Hero (1996) The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)
6. Olivier Assayas
Writer | Personal Shopper
Olivier Assayas is a French film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is best know for his films Demonlover (2002), Something in the Air (2012), Clouds of Sils Maria (2014) and Personal Shopper (2016).
Assayas is the son of French director/screenwriter Raymond Assayas, alias Jacques Rémy.
His ...
b. 1955 Summer Hours (2008) * Late August, Early September (1998) Clean (2004/I) Paris, Je T'Aime (2006) Carlos (2010)
7. Agnès Varda
Director | Cléo de 5 à 7
Agnès Varda was born on May 30, 1928 in Ixelles, Belgium. She was a director and writer, known for Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), Vagabond (1985) and Faces Places (2017). She was married to Jacques Demy. She died on March 29, 2019 in Paris, France.
b. 1928 The Beaches of Agnès (2008) * The Gleaners & I (2000) Jacquot de Nantes (1991) Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) Vagabond (1985)
8. Arnaud Desplechin
Director | Rois et reine
Arnaud Desplechin was born on October 31, 1960 in Roubaix, Nord, France. He is a director and writer, known for Kings & Queen (2004), The Sentinel (1992) and La vie des morts (1991).
b.1960 Kings & Queen (2004) * A Christmas Tale (2008) La vie des morts (1991) My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument (1996) Esther Kahn (2000)
9. Luc Besson
Writer | Le Cinquième Élément
Luc Besson spent the first years of his life following his parents, scuba diving instructors, around the world. His early life was entirely aquatic. He already showed amazing creativity as a youth, writing early drafts of The Big Blue (1988) and The Fifth Element (1997), as an adolescent bored in ...
b. 1959 Leon: The Professional (1994) * The Fifth Element (1997) La Femme Nikita (1990) The Lady (2011) Angel-A (2005)
10. Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Producer | Deux jours, une nuit
After studying drama in the arts institute, Jean Pierre Dardenne and his brother Luc made some videos about the rough life in blue-collar small towns in the Wallonie. After their meeting with filmmaker Armad Gatti and cinematographer Ned Burgess, they decided to enter in the movie business.
In 1978 ...
b. 1951 The Kid with a Bike (2011) The Child (2005) * La Promesse (1996) The Son (2002) Rosetta (1999) Lorna's Silence (2008)
11. Michael Haneke
Writer | Caché
A true master of his craft, Michael Haneke is one of the greatest film artists working today and one who challenges his viewers each year and work goes by, with films that reflect real portions of life in realistic, disturbing and unforgettable ways. One of the most genuine filmmakers of the world ...
b. 1942 Amour (2012) The White Ribbon (2009) Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys (2000) Caché (Hidden) (2005) Funny Games (2007) Time of the Wolf (2003) The Piano Teacher (2001)
12. André Téchiné
Writer | Les roseaux sauvages
André Téchiné was born on March 13, 1943 in Valence, Tarn-et-Garonne, France. He is a writer and director, known for Wild Reeds (1994), Rendez-vous (1985) and Being 17 (2016).
b. 1943 Wild Reeds (1994) * My Favorite Season (1993) Thieves (1996) The Witnesses (2007) Scene of the Crime (1986)
13. Claire Denis
Director | High Life
The films of Claire Denis frequently explore the fragile connections between people and the ways in which the most seemingly inconsequential relationship can have life-changing effects. At the heart of Denis' cinema is a fascination with the delights and difficulties of belonging and otherness, the...
b. 1948 35 Shots of Rum (2008) White Material (2009) Chocolate (1988) The Intruder (2004) Beau Travail (1999)
14. Alain Corneau
Writer | Tous les matins du monde
Alain Corneau was a Cesar Award-winning French writer-director best known for his multiple collaborations with French cinema superstars Yves Montand, Simone Signoret and Gérard Depardieu. Born on August 7, 1943 in Meung-sur-Loire, Loiret, Corneay trained as a musician but switched his interest to ...
b. 1943 Fear and Trembling (2003) Love Crime (2010) Tous les Matins du Monde (1991) Série noire (1979) Lumière and Company (1995)
15. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Director | Un long dimanche de fiançailles
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is a self-taught director who was very quickly interested by cinema, with a predilection for a fantastic cinema where form is as important as the subject. Thus he started directing TV commercials and video clips (such as Julien Clerc in 1984). At the same time he met designer/...
b. 1953 Amélie (2001) Delicatessen (1991) A Very Long Engagement (2004) Things I Like, Things I Don't Like (1989) The City of Lost Children (1995)
16. Sylvain Chomet
Director | Les triplettes de Belleville
Sylvain Chomet was born on November 10, 1963 in Maisons-Laffitte, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines, Île-de-France], France. He is a director and writer, known for The Triplets of Belleville (2003), The Illusionist (2010) and Paris, I Love You (2006).
b. 1963 The Triplets of Belleville (2003) * The Illusionist (2010) The Old Lady and the Pigeons (1998)
17. Jacques Rivette
Director | La Belle Noiseuse
Although François Truffaut has written that the New Wave began "thanks to Rivette," the films of this masterful French director are not well known. Rivette, like his "Cahiers du Cinéma" colleagues Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol and Éric Rohmer, did graduate to filmmaking but, like Rohmer...
b. 1928 Va Savoir (Who Knows?) (2001) Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974) La belle noiseuse (1991) Lumière and Company (1995) Paris Belongs to Us (1961)
18. Alain Resnais
Director | Hiroshima mon amour
Alain Resnais was born on June 3, 1922 in Vannes, Morbihan, France. He was a director and editor, known for Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959), Same Old Song (1997) and My American Uncle (1980). He was married to Sabine Azéma and Florence Malraux. He died on March 1, 2014 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, ...
b. 1922 Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) Last Year at Marienbad (1961) Mon oncle d'Amérique (1980) Same Old Song (1997) Smoking/No Smoking (1993)
19. Xavier Beauvois
Writer | Des hommes et des dieux
Xavier Beauvois was born on March 20, 1967 in Auchel, Pas-de-Calais, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Of Gods and Men (2010), North (1991) and Don't Forget You're Going to Die (1995).
b 1967 Of Gods and Men (2010) * Le petit lieutenant (2005) Don't Forget You're Going to Die (1995) Nord (1991)
20. Guillaume Canet
Actor | Jeux d'enfants
Son of horse breeders, the young man spent his childhood in the countryside near Paris. In his youth, Guillaume wanted to be a horse-rider, and briefly followed a professional career in the sport. A bad fall broke his dreams, but is at the origin of his acting career, and success. After briefly ...
b. 1973 Tell No One (2006) Little White Lies (2010) Whatever You Say (2002)
21. Leos Carax
Director | Holy Motors
Leos Carax made several short films and also wrote film criticism, then at the age of 24 years made a very strong first feature Boy Meets Girl (1984). The film played at the 1984 Cannes film festival and was a critical triumph. It paved the way for Carax's second feature Bad Blood (1986) (Bad Blood...
b. 1960 Holy Motors (2012) The Lovers on the Bridge (1991) Mauvais sang (1986) Tokyo! (2008)
22. François Dupeyron
Writer | C'est quoi la vie?
François Dupeyron was born on August 14, 1950 in Tartas, Landes, France. He was a writer and director, known for C'est quoi la vie? (1999), Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera (2008) and Lamento (1988). He was married to Dominique Faysse. He died on February 25, 2016 in Paris, France.
b. 1950 Monsieur Ibrahim (2003) The Officer's Ward (2001) C'est quoi la vie? (1999) Strange Place for an Encounter (1988)
23. Danièle Thompson
Writer | La bûche
Danièle Thompson was born on January 3, 1942 in Monaco. She is a writer and director, known for The Log (1999), Orchestra Seats (2006) and Queen Margot (1994). She is married to Albert Koski. She was previously married to Richard Thompson.
b.1942 Avenue Montaigne (2006) La bûche (1999) Jet Lag (2002)
24. Erick Zonca
Writer | La vie rêvée des anges
Erick Zonca was born on September 10, 1956 in Orléans, Loiret, France. He is a writer and director, known for The Dreamlife of Angels (1998), Julia (2008) and Black Tide (2018).
b. 1956 The Dreamlife of Angels (1998) Julia (2008) Le petit voleur (1999)
25. Philippe Claudel
Writer | Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Philippe Claudel was born on February 2, 1962 in Dombasle-sur-Meurthe, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. He is a writer and director, known for I've Loved You So Long (2008), A Childhood (2015) and Avant l'hiver (2013).
b. 1962 I've Loved You So Long (2008) Tous les soleils (2011)
26. Mathieu Kassovitz
Actor | Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
Mathieu Kassovitz was born on August 3, 1967 in Paris, France. He is an actor and director, known for Amélie (2001), La haine (1995) and The Fifth Element (1997).
b. 1967 La Haine (1995) Rebellion (2011) The Crimson Rivers (2000) Assassin(s) (1997)
27. Cédric Klapisch
Director | L'auberge espagnole
Cédric Klapisch was born on September 4, 1961 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is a director and actor, known for The Spanish Apartment (2002), Rise (2022) and Family Resemblances (1996). He has been married to Lola Doillon since 2002. They have one child.
b. 1961 L'Auberge Espagnole (2002) Le péril jeune (1994) Family Resemblances (1996) Russian Dolls (2005) Lumière and Company (1995)
28. Philippe Lioret
Director | Welcome
Philippe Lioret was born on October 10, 1955 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for Welcome (2009), Don't Worry, I'm Fine (2006) and Tombés du ciel (1993).
b. 1965 Welcome (2009/I) Don't Worry, I'm Fine (2006) The Light (2004) All Our Desires (2011)
29. François Ozon
Director | Dans la maison
François Ozon was born on November 15, 1967 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for In the House (2012), 8 Women (2002) and Swimming Pool (2003).
b. 1967 Under the Sand (2000) Time to Leave (2005) 8 Women (2002) Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000) Un lever de rideau (2006)
30. Gaspar Noé
Director | Enter the Void
Gaspar Noé is an Argentinian filmmaker and screenwriter who lives in France. He is the son of Luis Felipe Noé, an Argentinian artist. He directed I Stand Alone, Irréversible, Enter the Void, Love, Climax, Carne, Lux Æterna, Sodomites and Vortex. His films are known for having a sensory overload ...
b. 1963 I Stand Alone (1998) Irreversible (2002) Enter the Void (2009) Carne (1991)
31. Chantal Akerman
Director | Les rendez-vous d'Anna
Chantal Akerman was born on June 6, 1950 in Brussels, Belgium. She was a director and writer, known for The Meetings of Anna (1978), I, You, He, She (1974) and A Couch in New York (1996). She was married to Sonia Wieder-Atherton. She died on October 5, 2015 in Paris, France.
b. 1950 Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) News from Home (1977) The Meetings of Anna (1978) From the Other Side (2002/I) Almayer's Folly (2011)
32. Christian Carion
Director | Joyeux Noël
Christian Carion was born in a family of farmers in the North of France. Despite nursing a passion for films since he was 13, he travels a scientific path. After passing his baccalauréat, he joins an engineering school affiliated to the french ministry of agriculture, thus answering his family's ...
b. 1963 Joyeux Noel (2005) Farewell (2009) The Girl from Paris (2001)
33. Radu Mihaileanu
Writer | Train de vie
Radu Mihaileanu was born on April 23, 1958 in Bucharest, Romania. He is a writer and director, known for Train of Life (1998), The Concert (2009) and Live and Become (2005).
b. 1958 Live and Become (2005) Train of Life (1998) The Concert (2009
34. Francis Veber
Writer | Le dîner de cons
Francis Veber was born on July 28, 1937 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. He is a writer and director, known for Le Dîner de Cons (1998), The Birdcage (1996) and Ruby & Quentin (2003). He has been married to Françoise Veber since January 11, 1964. They have two ...
b. 1937 The Dinner Game (1998) The Toy (1976) The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (1972) The Goat (1981) The Closet (2001)
35. Jaco Van Dormael
Director | Mr. Nobody
Jaco Van Dormael was born on February 9, 1957 in Ixelles, Brabant, Belgium. He is a director and writer, known for Mr. Nobody (2009), The Brand New Testament (2015) and Toto the Hero (1991).
b. 1957 Mr. Nobody (2009/I) Toto the Hero (1991) The Eighth Day (1996) Lumière and Company (1995)
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