Lucie Szechter is a prominent French film director, producer and screenwriter who has been making films since the early 1990s. She is best known for her critically acclaimed films “L’Etat Sauvage” (1993) and “Le Chignon du cou” (2000).
Born in Paris in 1965, Szechter grew up in a family of film-makers. Her father was a film director, while her mother was a scriptwriter. From a young age, she was exposed to the art of filmmaking and was encouraged to pursue it as a profession. She went on to study literature and philosophy at the University of Paris, as well as screenwriting at the prestigious La Femis film school.
Szechter made her debut feature film in 1993 with “L’Etat Sauvage”. The film tells the story of a young girl who discovers her identity and sexuality in a repressive society. The film was critically acclaimed and won several awards, including the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2000, Szechter released her second feature, “Le Chignon du cou”. The film follows a young girl’s journey to reconnect with her family and rediscover her roots. It was well-received by critics and won the Silver Lion and the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Award at the Venice Film Festival.
Since then, Szechter has gone on to direct a number of films including “Porcelaine” (2002), “Skylab” (2007) and “L’interieur” (2008). She also produced the documentary “L’amour Maudit” (2006) and recently directed the feature film “La maladie de la mort” (2013).
Szechter’s films often explore themes of identity, sexuality and family dynamics. Her work has been praised for its poetic visual style and its strong female protagonists. She is considered to be one of the most important female directors in French cinema.
Szechter is currently based in Paris, where she continues to make films and teach screenwriting at La Femis. She is also a member of the Directors Guild of France. In 2021, she was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters for her contribution to the world of cinema.
