Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1946-02-01
- Born Place: Paris, France
Pascal Bonitzer
Born on February 1, 1946, in Paris, Pascal Bonitzer is a prominent French filmmaker, screenwriter, and critic who has been a central figure in French cinema for over five decades. After earning a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Nanterre, he began his career as a critic for the influential magazine Cahiers du Cinéma, serving as its editor from 1969 to 1985. Bonitzer transitioned into screenwriting in the mid-1970s, becoming a frequent collaborator with legendary directors such as Jacques Rivette (La Belle Noiseuse), André Téchiné (My Favorite Season), and Raoul Ruiz (Genealogies of a Crime). In 1996, he made his directorial debut with Encore, which won the prestigious Prix Jean Vigo. His directorial work often features intellectual and slightly neurotic male leads—often viewed as autobiographical "doubles"—in films like Rien sur Robert (1999) and Small Cuts (2003). In recent years, he has continued to be prolific, directing the art-world drama The Stolen Painting (Le Tableau volé, 2024) and preparing the 2026 release of Maigret et le mort amoureux. In addition to his creative work, he has shared his expertise as a professor at La Fémis and the Sorbonne Nouvelle. In his private life, he was the partner of the late filmmaker Sophie Fillières (1964–2023) and is the father of actress Agathe Bonitzer and Adam Bonitzer.
