François Ozon

François Ozon is a highly celebrated French film director and screenwriter. Born on November 15, 1967, in Paris, France, he is recognized as one of the most influential contemporary French filmmakers. Ozon's films are a unique blend of the aesthetic beauty, sharp satirical humor and a free-wheeling perspective on human sexuality. Recurring themes in his films include friendship, sexual identity, individual perceptions of reality, the ephemerality of life, and, most prominently, death. His craft has not only brought him esteem in his home country but also achieved global recognition, particularly for films such as '8 femmes' (2002) and 'Swimming Pool' (2003).

He is regarded as one of the key directors of the New 'New Wave' in French cinema, sharing this honor with Jean-Paul Civeyrac, Philippe Ramos, and Yves Caumon, among others. After graduating from the prestigious French film school, La Femis, Ozon launched his career with short films like 'A Summer Dress' and 'Scènes de lit'. His first feature-length film, 'Sitcom', was released in 1998. His international breakthrough came with the movie '8 femmes', a tale of music and murder mystery featuring Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, Isabelle Huppert, and Emmanuelle Béart. They called him a 'cinema du corps' or 'cinema of the body' filmmaker because of his penchant for intense bodily representation in films. Ozon’s 2013 film 'Young & Beautiful' earned him a nomination for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and he was voted best screenwriter at the 2013 European Film Awards for his film 'In the House'.