Audrey Diwan (; born 1980) is a French filmmaker, journalist and screenwriter.
She is most known for her 2021 film Happening, which won the Golden Lion at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
Career
Early life Before filmmaking, Diwan was a junior editor at Denoël as well as publishing various novels.
She has written many books, which led her to become a screenwriter including How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits, Confessions d'un salaud, De l'autre côté de l'été, La fabrication d'un mensonge, Cléo de 5 à 7.
She has also held senior positions in editorial offices for various fashion and culture magazines such as Glamour and Stylist.
Filmmaking career Diwan transitioned to filmmaking co-writing with Arnaud Duprey the thriller film Paris Under Watch (2012). She also collaboratted with her former husband Cédric Jimenez in three films: The Connection (2014), The Man with the Iron Heart (2017) and BAC Nord (2020).
Her directorial debut feature film (Mais vous êtes fous) premiered in 2019.
In 2021, Diwan directed Happening (L'Événement) based on Annie Ernaux's 2000 memoir of same name. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion in a "unanimous decision", thus making her the sixth female director to ever win this award. It was theatrically released in France shortly after, where it was met with critical acclaim, winning the Lumière Award for Best Film, alongside nominations for the César Award for Best Film, Best Director and Best Adaptation.
Diwan also collaborated with Valérie Donzelli in Just the Two of Us, and with Teddy Lussi-Modeste in The Good Teacher.
In 2024, Diwan released her English language debut feature Emmanuelle, a feminist reboot of the popular softcore erotic series of the same name. The film was met with negative reviews.
Also in 2024, Diwan co-wrote the French box-office hit Beating Hearts alongside Gilles Lellouche and Ahmed Hamidi.
Personal life Diwan is of Lebanese and Romanian descent.
Diwan was in a relationship with French director Cédric Jimenez, with whom she had two children, born in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Diwan and Jimenez separated in 2018.
On 29 September 2023, Diwan announced her engagement to film producer Thibault Gast, with whom she has been in a relationship since 2021.
She is a member of Collectif 50/50, a French NGO promoting equality between men and women in the film industry.
Filmography
Feature films YearEnglish TitleOriginal TitleNotes2019Losing ItMais vous êtes fous2021HappeningL'Événement2024EmmanuelleAlso producer
Only writer YearEnglish TitleOriginal TitleNotes2008TV movie2012Paris Under WatchAux yeux de tousCo-written with Arnaud Duprey2014The ConnectionLa FrenchCo-written with Cédric Jimenez2017The Man with the Iron HeartHHhHCo-written with Cédric Jimenez and David Farr2018(Girl)Friend2020BAC NordCo-written with Cédric Jimenez 2023Just the Two of UsL'Amour et les ForêtsCo-written with Valérie DonzelliVisionsCollaboration with Michel Fessler, Aurélie Valat, Jean-Baptiste Delafon and Yann Gozlan2024The Good TeacherPas de VaguesCo-written with Teddy Lussi-Modeste Beating HeartsL'Amour oufCo-written with Gilles Lellouche and Ahmed Hamidi
Awards and nominations Throughout the course of her career, Audrey Diwan has been nominated for 25 films, 13 of which she has won. This includes winning all three awards she had been nominated for at the International Online Cinema Awards, winning Best Director as well as Best Adapted Screenplay two years in a row. Year Award Category Work Result 2022 British Academy Film Awards Best Director Happening 2022César Awards Best Film Best Director Best Adaptation 2021 European Film Awards European University Film Award 2022 Gotham Awards Best International Feature 2015 Lumière Awards Best Screenplay The Connection 2022 Best Film Happening Best Director 2021Venice Film Festival Golden Lion FIPRESCI Prize Brian Award Arca CinemaGiovani Award: Venezia 78 Best Film
References
External links
Q&A: Director Audrey Diwan on 'Happening' & Abortion in Cinema | Presented By rePRO Film & IFC Films https://aframe.oscars.org/what-to-watch/post/audrey-diwan-5-movies-that-influenced-me-as-a-filmmaker https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/cannes-critics-week-2023-jury-audrey-diwan-president-1235372032/