Johan Van den Driessche is a Belgian film and television director. He was born in 1960 in the small town of Wavre, Belgium. He studied film at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels and graduated in 1985.
After graduating, Van den Driessche worked on a number of feature films and television series in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. He directed the feature film "The Sorrow of Belgium" in 1996, which earned him acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The film was nominated for several awards, including a César for Best Foreign Film.
Van den Driessche is known for his visual style and his ability to create intense moments of drama. He often uses handheld cameras and long takes to create a sense of immediacy and realism. He is also known for his willingness to experiment with different genres, as seen in his films "The Promise" (1997), "The Sea" (1998), "The Devil's Advocate" (1999), and "The House of the Spirits" (2001).
In the early 2000s, Van den Driessche moved away from feature films and began directing television series, including "The Kiss" (2003), "The Village" (2004), "The Purge" (2005), "The One" (2006), and "The Return" (2007). He also directed the two-part docudrama "The Last Dance" (2009).
Throughout his career, Van den Driessche has continued to explore different genres and styles. He has directed a variety of television series, including comedies, dramas, and crime shows. His most recent work includes the feature film "The Forbidden Room" (2017) and the television series "The Outsider" (2017).
Van den Driessche's work has been honored with several awards, including the Prix de la Fondation de France for Best Film (for The Sorrow of Belgium) and Best Direction (for The Promise). He has also been nominated for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Director (for The Devil's Advocate).
Van den Driessche is a master of his craft, creating captivating images and stories that explore the complexities of the human experience. His films and television series are known for their realism, intensity, and emotion. He continues to push the boundaries of storytelling, creating films and television series that are both entertaining and thought-provoking.
