Patrice Pooyard is a French film director and screenwriter best known for his award-winning films such as La Haine (1995), La Petite Lili (2003), and The Secret of the Grain (2007). Born in Paris in 1956, Pooyard studied filmmaking at the Institut des Hautes Études Cinématographiques (IDHEC).
After graduating, Pooyard worked as an assistant director with acclaimed French filmmaker Claude Chabrol on films such as Le Boucher (1970). He then worked with director Jean-Luc Godard on the film One Plus One (1968). This experience gave him the opportunity to learn the craft of filmmaking from two of the greatest filmmakers of the French New Wave.
In 1974, Pooyard made his first short film, La femme qui sort de l’eau. This was followed by three other shorts, including Un bonheur si fragile (1979), which won the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1991, Pooyard wrote and directed his first feature film, L’Amour Fou (1991). The film was a critical and commercial success, and earned Pooyard the prestigious César Award for Best Director. This success was followed by his second feature La Haine (1995). The film was an international hit and won the Grand Prix at Cannes, the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, and the Prix du Jury at the César Awards.
Pooyard’s third feature, La Petite Lili (2003), was a romantic drama starring Natalie Portman. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Pooyard his second César Award. His fourth feature, The Secret of the Grain (2007), was an international hit, winning the César Award for Best Film and the Prix du Jury at Cannes.
In recent years, Pooyard has continued to make acclaimed films, including the crime drama A Prophet (2009) and the romantic comedy Populaire (2012). He is currently working on his next film, The Beautiful Brothers (2017).
Throughout his career, Pooyard has been recognized for his unique vision and masterful use of cinematic language. His films are renowned for their sensitive and complex characters, and his exploration of complex social issues. His work has earned him numerous awards, including two César Awards, and he is considered to be one of the greatest
