Jean-Jacques Annaud (; born 1 October 1943) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer, best known for directing ''
Quest for Fire ''Quest for Fire'' may refer to:
* '' The Quest for Fire'', a 1911 novel by J. H. Rosny
* ''Quest for Fire'' (film), a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 novel
* "Quest for Fire", a song by Iron Maiden from 1983's ''Piece of Mind
''Piece of Min ...
'' (1981), ''
The Name of the Rose
''The Name of the Rose'' ( it, Il nome della rosa ) is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, and an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in ficti ...
Enemy at the Gates
''Enemy at the Gates'' (''Stalingrad'' in France and ''L'Ennemi aux portes'' in Canada) is a 2001 war film directed, co-written, and produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud, based on William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book '' Enemy at the Gates: The Batt ...
Wolf Totem
''Wolf Totem'' () is a 2004 Chinese semi-autobiographical novel about the experiences of a young student from Beijing who finds himself sent to the countryside of Inner Mongolia in 1967, at the height of China's Cultural Revolution. The author, ...
'' (2015).
Annaud has received numerous awards for his work, including five César Awards, one
David di Donatello Award
The David di Donatello Awards, named after Donatello's ''David'', a symbolic statue of the Italian Renaissance, are film awards given out each year by the '' Accademia del Cinema Italiano'' (The Academy of Italian Cinema). There are 26 award ca ...
, and one National Academy of Cinema Award. Annaud's first film, '' Black and White in Color'' (1976), received an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for
Best Foreign Language Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
.
Early life
Jean-Jacques Annaud was born on 1 October 1943 in
Draveil
Draveil () is a commune in the department of Essonne in the southern suburbs of Paris, France.Juvisy-sur-Orge
Juvisy-sur-Orge (, literally ''Juvisy on Orge'') is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located 18 km south-east of Paris, a few kilometres south of Orly Airport.
The site of the town has been oc ...
,
Essonne
Essonne () is a department of France in the southern Île-de-France region. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659 across 194 communes.Vaugirard, and in 1964 graduated from the prestigious film school Institut des Hautes Études Cinématographiques (IDHEC) in Paris.
Career
Annaud began his career by directing television advertisements in the late 1960s to early 1970s. In his first feature film, '' Black and White in Color'' (1976), he drew on his personal experience of military service in
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His third film, 1981's ''
Quest for Fire ''Quest for Fire'' may refer to:
* '' The Quest for Fire'', a 1911 novel by J. H. Rosny
* ''Quest for Fire'' (film), a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 novel
* "Quest for Fire", a song by Iron Maiden from 1983's ''Piece of Mind
''Piece of Min ...
'' (''La Guerre du feu''), received two Césars for best film and best director.
After '' Hothead'' (1979), a French-language film that became a cult classic in his homeland, he moved to Kenya, Scotland and Canada to shoot ''Quest for Fire'', which brought him international recognition. He subsequently won a César - French National Award - for Best Film & for Best Director. He then directed Sean Connery in ''
The Name of the Rose
''The Name of the Rose'' ( it, Il nome della rosa ) is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, and an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in ficti ...
'' (1986), which was shot in Italian and German monasteries (César for Best Foreign Film and David Di Donatello for Best Director), and is based on
Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco (5 January 1932 – 19 February 2016) was an Italian medievalist, philosopher, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator. In English, he is best known for his popular 1980 novel ''The Name of th ...
Andrew Birkin
Andrew Timothy Birkin (born 9 December 1945) is an English screenwriter and director. He was born the only son of Lieutenant-Commander David Birkin and his wife, actress Judy Campbell. One of his sisters is the actress and singer Jane Birkin.
...
, won two BAFTA Film Awards and was the subject of another 14 wins and two nominations. Annaud spent four years preparing for the film, traveling throughout the United States and Europe, searching for the cast and film set locations. He supposedly felt personally intrigued by the project, among other things because of a lifelong fascination with medieval churches and familiarity with Latin and Greek.'
He then adapted '' The Bear'' P.O.V. (César for Best Director, 1988) in the heart of select locations of the Dolomites, Germany, Canada and Austria. He then shot in Vietnam the adaptation of
Marguerite Duras
Marguerite Germaine Marie Donnadieu (, 4 April 1914 – 3 March 1996), known as Marguerite Duras (), was a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Her script for the film '' Hiroshima mon amour'' (1959) e ...
's autobiographical novel, '' The Lover'' (1992), recreating the atmosphere of colonial Indochina. He then set back out to the Canadian Rockies and directed ''Wings of Courage'', the first 3D fiction film ever made in Imax-3D (1995). In 2000 he wrote and produced ''
Running Free
Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
'', directed by
Sergei Bodrov
Sergei Vladimirovich Bodrov ( rus, Серге́й Влади́мирович Бодро́в, p=sʲɪrˈɡʲej bɐˈdrof; born June 28, 1948) is a Russian film director, screenwriter, and producer. In 2003 he was the President of the Jury at the 25 ...
.
Annaud also worked with Brad Pitt when he directed '' Seven Years in Tibet'' (1997), shot in Argentina, Canada, Tibet, Nepal and Tyrol. In 2001, Annaud reunited Jude Law and
Ed Harris
Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an American actor and filmmaker. His performances in ''Apollo 13'' (1995), '' The Truman Show'' (1998), '' Pollock'' (2000), and '' The Hours'' (2002) earned him critical acclaim and Academy Award ...
in the hell of the famed battle of Stalingrad (''
Enemy at the Gates
''Enemy at the Gates'' (''Stalingrad'' in France and ''L'Ennemi aux portes'' in Canada) is a 2001 war film directed, co-written, and produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud, based on William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book '' Enemy at the Gates: The Batt ...
'', 2001), completely reconstructed in Germany. Soon after, Annaud flew to the ruins of the temples of Angkor and gave life to '' Two Brothers'' (2004), shot in Cambodia, Thailand and France. He then set out to revive ancient Greece (''His Majesty Minor'', 2007) shot entirely in Spain, then Arabia of the late 1930s, directing Antonio Banderas in Tunisia and Qatar in '' Black Gold'' (2011). In 2015, Annaud adapted ''
Wolf Totem
''Wolf Totem'' () is a 2004 Chinese semi-autobiographical novel about the experiences of a young student from Beijing who finds himself sent to the countryside of Inner Mongolia in 1967, at the height of China's Cultural Revolution. The author, ...
'', a Chinese literary phenomenon entirely shot in Inner Mongolia. The film won the People's Hundred Flowers Award and Golden Rooster in China and a dozen other trophies around the world.
Annaud signed a petition in support of film director
Roman Polanski
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
in 2009, calling for his release after Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in relation to his 1977 charge for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.
In 2018, Annaud directed
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and race car driver. He is best known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy''. He had early success as an actor, starring in a number of fi ...
in his 10-part television adaptation of
Joël Dicker
Joël Dicker (born 16 June 1985) is a Swiss novelist.
Early life
Dicker attended College Madame the Staël in Geneva. At the age of 19, he enrolled at the Cours Florent in Paris. After one year, he returned to Switzerland to attend law school, ...
's best-seller ''The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair'' (2018); it was released in 22 countries and shot in Canada.
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
Annaud is a member of the
Institut de France
The (; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the Académie Française. It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute ...
and has received numerous distinctions: Film Award of the National French Academy, Knight of the National Order of Merit, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, and the Charlemagne Medal for European Media (''Karlsmedaille für die europäischen Medien'').
*
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
Quest for Fire ''Quest for Fire'' may refer to:
* '' The Quest for Fire'', a 1911 novel by J. H. Rosny
* ''Quest for Fire'' (film), a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 novel
* "Quest for Fire", a song by Iron Maiden from 1983's ''Piece of Mind
''Piece of Min ...
'' (Won – Best Film)
** 1982: ''
Quest for Fire ''Quest for Fire'' may refer to:
* '' The Quest for Fire'', a 1911 novel by J. H. Rosny
* ''Quest for Fire'' (film), a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 novel
* "Quest for Fire", a song by Iron Maiden from 1983's ''Piece of Mind
''Piece of Min ...
'' (Won – Best Director)
** 1987: ''
The Name of the Rose
''The Name of the Rose'' ( it, Il nome della rosa ) is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, and an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in ficti ...
'' (Won – Best Foreign Film)
** 1988: '' The Bear'' (''Nomination – Best Film'')
** 1988: '' The Bear'' (Won – Best Director)
** 1992: '' The Lover'' (''Nomination'')
* David di Donatello
** 1987: ''
The Name of the Rose
''The Name of the Rose'' ( it, Il nome della rosa ) is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, and an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in ficti ...
'' (Won)
*
European Film Academy
The European Film Academy is an initiative of a group of European filmmakers who came together in Berlin on the occasion of the first presentation of the European Film Awards in November 1988.
The Academy—under the name of European Cinema Soc ...
** ''
Enemy at the Gates
''Enemy at the Gates'' (''Stalingrad'' in France and ''L'Ennemi aux portes'' in Canada) is a 2001 war film directed, co-written, and produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud, based on William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book '' Enemy at the Gates: The Batt ...
'' (''Nomination'')
Awards and distinctions – full list
**1970: Special Effects Award at the 17th International Advertising Festival of Venice for the commercial spot "Super Shell" (Italy). (Won)
**1971: EuroTV Prize for the commercial spot "Crunch" (France). (Won)
**1973: Golden Lions at the 20th International Advertising Film Festival in Cannes for the spots "Christofle – The Chinese" and Comédie Materna". Silver Lions at the 20th International Advertising Festival for "Le Diner" and "Travesti". Cinema Diploma at the 20th International Advertising Festival in Cannes for the "Roll and Roll for Eram" spot. First Prize from the Art Directors Club for the commercials "Christofle – The Chinese" (France). Clio Award for the commercial "Christofle – The Chinese" (USA). (Won)
**1974: Silver Lions at the 21st International Advertising Festival in Cannes for the commercial "Look Nevada" (France). (Won)
**1977: First Prize from the Art Directors Club for Advert for the commercial "Urgo" (France). (Won)
**1977: Academy Award for Best Foreign Film for ''Black and White in Color'' (USA), originally released as ''La victoire en chantant'' (1976, France). (Won)
**1978: Second Prize from the Art Directors Club for Advert for the commercial "Dunlopillo" (France). (Won)
**1979: Best Commercial Award for TV for the spot "The Train" for the Kelton brand (France). (Won)
**1982: César (French National Award) for Best Film and César for Best Director for ''Quest for Fire'' (France). This movie also won five Genie Awards (Canada), an Academy Award (USA), and the British Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling (England). (Won)
**1982: Jury Member at the 35th Cannes Film Festival (France).
**1985: César for the Best Commercial and Bronze Elephant for the commercial "Hertz – The Vultures" (France). (Won)
**1987: César Award for Best Foreign Film for ''The Name of the Rose'' (France). René Clair Award at David Di Donatello for Best Art Direction for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Italy). Bambi Award for Best Film for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Germany). Deutscher Filmpreis Award for Best Art Direction for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Germany). Silver Award for Outstanding Feature Film at the German Film Awards for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Germany). Golden Screen Award for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Germany). Jupiter Award for ''The Name of the Rose'' (Germany). Actors and other contributors also won numerous awards for this motion picture (Bafta, Bavarian Film Awards, David di Donatello Awards, Edgar Allan Poe Award). (Won)
**1988: National Movie Award for ''The Bear'' (Ministry of Culture, France). (Won)
**1989: César Award for Best Director for ''The Bear'' (France). Best Director (Bulgaria) for ''The Bear''. Genesis Award for Best Foreign Film for The Bear (USA). (Won)
**1990: Officer of Arts and Letters Order (France). Guild of German Art House Cinemas Film Award, Silver Foreign Film for ''The Bear''. (Won)
**1992: Japanese Film Critic Award for Best Director for The Lover (Japan). The film won the Motion Picture Sound Editors' 1993 Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing Foreign Feature (USA) and the 1993 César Award for Best Music Written for a Film (France). (Won)
**1997: Guild Film Gold Award from the Guild of German Art House Cinemas (Germany) for Seven Years in Tibet. Best Film of the Year for ''Seven Years in Tibet'' (Germany). PFS Award for Peace at the Political Film Society for ''Seven Years in Tibet'' (USA). (Won)
**2001: President of the 27th Festival of American Cinema in Deauville (France).
**2004: Charlemagne Medal for the European Medias (''Karlsmedaille für die europäischen Medien'') (Germany). (Won)
**2005: Genesis Award for Best Foreign Film for ''Two Brothers'' (USA). (Won)
**2005: President of the Jury at the 5th Marrakesh International Film Festival (Morocco).
**2007: Member of the Institut de France (Paris), elected to chair #3 of the Académie des Beaux-Arts au siège de Gérard Oury (succeeding René Clément), Knight of the National Order of Merit, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters and Knight of the Order of Academic Palms (France). (Won)
**2012: President of the Jury at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival (China).
**2015: President of the jury at the 37th Moscow International Film Festival (Russia). Moscow Film Festival Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the World Cinema. (Won)
**2015: Golden Rooster Award for Best Film for ''Wolf Totem'' (China); Moscow International Film Festival Special Jury Award for ''Wolf Totem'' (Russia); Prague Film Festival Kristian Award for ''Wolf Totem'' (Czech Republic); International Award for Best Director at Bari International Film Festival (Italy) for ''Wolf Totem''; The CineMerit Award Filmfest München for ''Wolf Totem'' (Germany); Best Director at the Macau International Movie Festival for ''Wolf Totem'' (Macau); Golden Lotus Award Best Picture for ''Wolf Totem'' at the Beijing International Film Festival (China); Tiantian Award for Best Director for ''Wolf Totem'' (China); Jury Award for Best Director at the Beijing College Student Film Festival 2015 for ''Wolf Totem'' (China). (Won)
**2016: People Hundred Flowers Award for Best Film for ''Wolf Totem'' (China). (Won)
**2018: Cinematographer-Director Duo Award to lenser Jean-Marie Dreujou and helmer Annaud at the 26th Camerimage International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, November 10–17 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. (Won)