Jan Kounen

Jan Kounen (born as Jan Coenen on May 2, 1964) is a Netherlands-born French film director and producer. His fame rests mostly in France where he's best known for his films like 'Dobermann' (1997), 'Blueberry, l'experience secrete' (2004) and '99 Francs' (2007). His interests also venture into Shipibo-Conibo culture and shamanism, which he encountered during his trips to Mexico and Peru, and in directing music videos. His most notable music videos are the four he did for the English pop group Erasure in the 1990s. After studying at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs in Nice, Kounen began work as assistant operator and subsequently directed music videos and documentaries. His short film 'Gisele Kerosene' won the Grand Prix in the category of Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival in 1989. In the early 90s, Kounen dabbled into advertising and made two acclaimed short films, 'Vibroboy' and 'Little Red Riding Hood'. His first feature film was 'Dobermann' starring French actor, Vincent Cassel. Following this, Kounen traveled across Mexico and Peru, immersing himself in shaman culture and even participating in roughly a hundred ayahuasca ceremonies. He subsequently made 'Blueberry', an adaptation of the famous comic strip by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud. In 2009, he made a biographical film about the relationship between Chanel, the French fashion designer, and Stravinsky, the Russian composer, named 'Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky'. The film ended the 2009 Cannes Festival. In the same year, Kounen signed a petition in support of film director Roman Polanski.