Jean-Jacques Annaud (; born 1 October 1943) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed '' Quest for Fire'' (1981), ''

The Name of the Rose ''The Name of the Rose'' ( ) is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical fiction, historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, and an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, ...

'' (1986), '' The Bear'' (1988), '' The Lover'' (1992), '' Seven Years in Tibet'' (1997), ''

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 (author), William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book ''Enemy ...

'' (2001), '' Black Gold'' (2011), and '' Wolf Totem'' (2015). Annaud has received numerous awards for his work, including five

César Award Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar R ...

s, one David di Donatello Award, and one National Academy of Cinema Award. Annaud's first film, '' Black and White in Color'' (1976), received an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

for Best Foreign Language Film. His most recent film is '' Notre-Dame on Fire,'' released in 2022.

Early life

Jean-Jacques Annaud was born on 1 October 1943 in Draveil,

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 southeast of Paris and a few kilometres south of Orly Airport. The city is known for Gare de Juvisy, ...

Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the Île-de-France region in Northern France. 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, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His third film, 1981's '' Quest for Fire'' (''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 ''

'' (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 Medieval studies, medievalist, philosopher, Semiotics, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator. In English, he is best known for his popular ...

's popular novel of the same name. The film version, with a screenplay by Andrew Birkin, won two

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...

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) ea ...

'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'', directed by Sergei Bodrov. Annaud also worked with

Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...

when he directed '' Seven Years in Tibet'' (1997), shot in Argentina, Canada, Tibet, Nepal and Tyrol. In 2001, Annaud reunited

Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...

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 Awa ...

in a retelling of the

Battle of Stalingrad The Battle of Stalingrad ; see . rus, links=on, Сталинградская битва, r=Stalingradskaya bitva, p=stəlʲɪnˈɡratskəjə ˈbʲitvə. (17 July 19422 February 1943) was a major battle on the Eastern Front of World War II, ...

(''

'', 2001), filmed in Germany. Soon after, Annaud flew to the ruins of the temples of Angkor and filmed '' 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 José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born 10 August 1960), known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor. Known for his work in films of several genres, he has received numerous accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award ...

in Tunisia and Qatar in '' Black Gold'' (2011). In 2015, Annaud adapted '' Wolf Totem'', 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 (; born 18 August 1933) is a Polish and French filmmaker and actor. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Roman Polanski, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Britis ...

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 racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...

in his 10-part television adaptation of Joël Dicker'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 . 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 manages approximately ...

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''). *

** 1976: '' Black and White in Color'' (Won – Best Foreign Language Film) *

** 1982: '' Quest for Fire'' (Won – Best Film) ** 1982: '' Quest for Fire'' (Won – Best Director) ** 1987: ''

'' (Won – Best Foreign Film) ** 1988: '' The Bear'' (''Nomination – Best Film'') ** 1988: '' The Bear'' (Won – Best Director) ** 1992: '' The Lover'' (''Nomination'') *

David di Donatello The David di Donatello Awards, named after Donatello's ''David (Donatello, bronze), 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 Cin ...

** 1987: ''

'' (Won) *

European Film Academy The European Film Academy is a group of European film director, filmmakers who come together in Berlin on the occasion of the first presentation of the European Film Awards in November 1988. Every year, the European Film Academy honors films an ...

** ''

'' (''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 René Clément (; 18 March 1913 – 17 March 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. He is known for directing the films ''The Battle of the Rails'' (1946), ''Forbidden Games'' (1952), ''Gervaise (film), Gervaise'' (1956), ''Purple No ...

), 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)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Annaud, Jean-Jacques 1943 births Living people People from Juvisy-sur-Orge French film directors French male screenwriters 20th-century French screenwriters 21st-century French screenwriters French film producers Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners Best Director César Award winners Members of the Académie des beaux-arts People named in the Paradise Papers Institut des hautes études cinématographiques alumni