Stéphane Riethauser is a Swiss film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work on the feature films My Life as a Zucchini (2016) and the documentary All Our Dreams (2015).
Riethauser was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and grew up in the nearby town of Lausanne. He studied film at the University of Lausanne, where he received his Master of Arts in 2006. After completing his studies, he worked as a freelance director, shooting short films, corporate videos, and music videos for various clients.
Riethauser’s first feature-length film, All Our Dreams (2015), was a documentary about a group of Swiss immigrants who travel to India to explore their roots. The film won the Grand Prize at the Visions du Réel film festival in Nyon, Switzerland, and was screened at festivals around the world.
His next film, My Life as a Zucchini (2016), was a stop-motion animated feature adapted from the novel Autobiographie d'une courgette by Gilles Paris. The film received critical acclaim, winning the César Award for Best Animated Film, the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the Cristal Audience Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.
In 2017, Riethauser directed and co-wrote the feature film Mother’s Instinct, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. He also wrote and co-produced the 2018 documentary series Out of the Box, which follows the stories of 12 people who have decided to pursue novel career paths.
Riethauser is currently working on his third feature film, which is due to be released in 2021. He is also developing a number of projects for TV and streaming platforms.
Riethauser has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Edmond de Rothschild Award for Best Feature Film at the Brussels International Film Festival and the Prix de la Fondation Suisse des Réalisateurs at the Solothurn Film Festival. He has also been invited to speak at film festivals and universities around the world.
