Alice Rohrwacher

❧

Wikipedia

Alice Rohrwacher
Alice Rohrwacher at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Born (1981-12-29) 29 December 1981 (age 43)
Fiesole, Tuscany, Italy
Alma materUniversity of Turin
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, editor
Years active2005–present
RelativesAlba Rohrwacher (sister)

Alice Rohrwacher (Italian: [aˈliːtʃe rorˈvaːker] ⓘ, German: [ˈʁoːɐ̯vaxɐ]; born 29 December 1981) is an Italian film director, editor and screenwriter. She made her directorial debut with Heavenly Body (2011) and gained international attention with The Wonders (2014), which won the Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival).[1] She received further acclaim for Happy as Lazzaro (2018), winner of the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay,[2] and for La chimera (2023), which competed for the Palme d'Or.[3] Her short film Le pupille (2022) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.[4] In 2026, she will receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.[5]

Early life

Rohrwacher was born on 29 December 1981 in Fiesole, Tuscany, to an Italian mother and a German father, Reinhard Rohrwacher, who worked as a Beekeeper.[6] She grew up in the rural village of Castel Giorgio, Umbria, where her mother was born and where the family maintained a close connection to agricultural and artisanal traditions.[7] These early experiences, marked by communal living, spirituality and the countryside lifestyle, would later strongly influence the themes and imagery of her films.[8]

Her older sister, Alba Rohrwacher, became a prominent Italian actress and has appeared in several of Alice’s films, creating a recurring artistic collaboration.[9] Rohrwacher studied Classics at the University of Turin before specializing in screenwriting at the Holden School in Turin.[10]

Career

Rohrwacher’s first experience in filmmaking came in 2006, when she directed a segment of the Italian documentary Checosamanca, a collaborative project exploring contemporary youth culture in Italy.[11]

In 2011, she made her feature film debut with Heavenly Body (Corpo celeste), which premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.[12] The film introduced many of Rohrwacher’s stylistic trademarks, including naturalistic performances, spiritual themes and depictions of adolescence.

Her second feature, The Wonders (Le meraviglie), premiered in competition at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix, gaining her international recognition.[13] In the same year, she was appointed President of the International Jury for the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.[14]

In 2015, Rohrwacher directed the short film De Djess, part of the Miu Miu Women's Tales series, starring Alba Rohrwacher and Yanet Mojica. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori and New York Fashion Week, exploring a magical dress in a surreal seaside hotel setting.[15][16][17][18]

In 2017, Rohrwacher began production on her third feature, Happy as Lazzaro (Lazzaro felice), starring Sergi López and her sister Alba Rohrwacher.[19] The film premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where Rohrwacher won the award for Best Screenplay.[20] Happy as Lazzaro was later released internationally on Netflix in December of that year.[21]

In June 2018, Rohrwacher was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[22] She later served on the jury of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.[23]

Her short film Le pupille (2022), produced by Alfonso Cuarón, premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.[24]

Rohrwacher’s fourth feature, La chimera, starring Josh O'Connor and Isabella Rossellini, premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d'Or.[25]

In 2024, she co-directed the short film An Urban Allegory with JR, which premiered out of competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.[26]

In 2025, Rohrwacher was appointed Jury President of the Caméra d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.[27]

In 2026, she is scheduled to receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.[28]

Style

Rohrwacher’s work is often described as a blend of magical realism and Italian neorealism, combining realistic depictions of rural life with elements of the fantastic.[29] 

Her films frequently focus on adolescence and youth, exploring the inner lives of young characters as they navigate moral, social and spiritual challenges.[30]

She often sets her stories in small towns or rural communities in Italy, highlighting traditional customs and local landscapes. Critics note her use of long takes, natural lighting and unobtrusive camerawork, which enhances the immersive realism of her narratives.[31]

Themes of community, social inequality, and the intersection between innocence and corruption recur throughout her work. Additionally, she frequently collaborates with actors she knows personally, including her sister Alba Rohrwacher, creating a sense of intimacy and authenticity in performances.[32]

Filmography

Feature films

Year English Title Original Title Director Screenwriter Notes
2011 Heavenly Body Corpo celeste Yes Yes Directorial debut
2014 The Wonders Le meraviglie Yes Yes Grand Prix at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival
2018 Happy as Lazzaro Lazzaro Felice Yes Yes Best Screenplay at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, released on Netflix
2023 La chimera Yes Yes Competed for Palme d'Or at 2023 Cannes Film Festival

Documentaries

Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes
2006 Checosamanca Yes No Italian documentary exploring youth culture
2014 9x10 novanta Yes Yes segment: "Una canzone"
2021 Futura Yes No Co-directed with Pietro Marcello and Francesco Munzi

Short films

Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes
2015 De Djess Yes Yes Part of Miu Miu Woman's Tales series, premiered at the Venice Film Festival
2022 Le pupille Yes Yes Nominated for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film; produced by Alfonso Cuarón
2024 An Urban Allegory Yes Yes Premiered out of competition at 81st Venice International Film Festival; co-directed with JR

Other work

Year Title Director Screenwriter Cinematographer Editor Notes
2005 Un piccolo spettacolo No Yes Yes Yes Documentary film
2008 Boygo No No No Yes Short film
Tradurre No No No Yes Documentary film
2009 In tempo, ma rubato No No No Yes Documentary film
Residuo fisso No No Yes Yes Documentary short
2020 My Brilliant Friend Yes No No No Rai/HBO series; 2 episodes
Ad una mela Yes No No No Trailer for the Vienna International Film Festival


Accolades

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Academy Awards 2022 Best Live Action Short Film Le pupille Nominated [33]
Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2014 Black Pearl Award The Wonders Won [34]
Cannes Film Festival 2011 Caméra d'Or Heavenly Body Nominated [35]
2014 Grand Prix The Wonders Won [36]
2018 Best Screenplay Happy as Lazzaro Won [1]
2021 L'Œil d'or Futura Nominated [2]
2023 Palme d'Or La chimera Nominated [3]
Chicago International Film Festival 2018 Gold Hugo Happy as Lazzaro Won [4]
David di Donatello 2011 Best New Director Heavenly Body Nominated [5]
2019 Best Film Happy as Lazzaro Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Nominated
2022 Best Documentary Futura Nominated
2024 Best Film La chimera Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Nominated
European Film Awards 2018 European Film Happy as Lazzaro Nominated [37]
European Director Nominated
European Screenwriter Nominated
European University Film Award Won [6]
2026 European Achievement in World Cinema Won [7]
Filmfest München 2014 CineVision Award The Wonders Won [8]
Gothenburg Film Festival 2012 Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award Heavenly Body Won [9]
Independent Spirit Awards 2019 Best International Film Happy as Lazzaro Nominated [10]
Manchester Film Festival 2024 Golden Bee for Best Feature Film La chimera Won [11]
Nastro d'Argento 2011 Best New Director Heavenly Body Won [12]
2023 Nastro d’Argento speciale Le pupille Won [13]
Telluride Film Festival 2023 Silver Medallion — Won [14]

References

  1. 1 2 "71st Festival de Cannes Awards". Festival de Cannes. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Les documentaires 2021 à Cannes". Scam : Société civile des auteurs multimédia (in French). 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 "The films of the Official Selection 2023". Festival de Cannes. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Awards Announced for 54th Chicago International Film Festival". Cinema Chicago. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Alice ROHRWACHER". Accademia del Cinema Italiano - Premi David di Donatello. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 "HAPPY AS LAZZARO Wins European University Film Award (EUFA)". European Film Awards. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  7. 1 2 "The European Film Awards honour Alice Rohrwacher with the European Achievement in World Cinema Award". Cineuropa. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  8. 1 2 "CineVision Award". FILMFEST MÜNCHEN. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  9. 1 2 Simon, Alissa (5 February 2012). "'Orheim' nabs Dragon at Gothenburg". Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  10. 1 2 Warren, Matt (16 November 2018). "These Are Your 2019 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees!". Film Independent. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  11. 1 2 Williams, Tom (26 March 2024). "Manchester Film Festival 2024 award winners announced". British Cinematographer. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 "2011". Nastri d'Argento (in Italian). Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  13. 1 2 "CORTI d'ARGENTO 2023 | LA SELEZIONE UFFICIALE, I TITOLI FINALISTI e IL NASTRO SPECIALE AD ALICE ROHRWACHER". Nastri d'Argento (in Italian). 24 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  14. 1 2 "2023 Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes World Premieres From Emerald Fennell, Alexander Payne". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Vogue Italia. "De Djess di Alice Rohrwacher per Miu Miu Women's Tales". Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  16. ↑ i‑D Magazine. "Watch Miu Miu’s surreal new short by Alice Rohrwacher". Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  17. ↑ Mindfood. "De Djess: Miu Miu Tales delight". February 24, 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  18. ↑ Vanity Fair Italia. "De Djess: il video". Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (7 August 2017). "Italy's Alice Rohrwacher Shooting 'Lazzaro Felice,' Match Factory Takes World Sales". Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "71st Festival de Cannes Awards". Festival de Cannes. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Awards Announced for 54th Chicago International Film Festival". Cinema Chicago. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  23. ↑ Oldham, Stuart (29 April 2019). "Cannes Announces 2019 Jury Members Including Elle Fanning and Yorgos Lanthimos". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  24. ↑ "95th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners Here". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "The films of the Official Selection 2023". Festival de Cannes. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  26. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (23 July 2024). "'Joker 2,' 'Maria,' 'Wolfs' in Venice Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter.
  27. ↑ "Alice Rohrwacher, President of the Caméra d'or Jury". Festival de Cannes. 18 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  28. ↑ Cineuropa. "The European Film Awards honour Alice Rohrwacher with the European Achievement in World Cinema Award". 5 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  29. ↑ Joon-ho, Bong (25 February 2020). "Bong Joon Ho's 20 upcoming directors for the 2020s". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  30. ↑ Nicholas Albanese, 'Bodies in space: Emplacement in Alice Rohrwacher's Corpo celeste', in The Italianist, 37:2 (2017), pp. 228-242.
  31. ↑ Silvia Angeli, 'From the margins: Alice Rohrwacher's liminal adolescents', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, 8:3 (2019), pp. 339-356.
  32. ↑ Laura Di Bianco, 'Ecocinema Ars et Praxis: Alice Rohrwacher's Lazzaro felice', in The Italianist, 40:2 (2020), pp. 151-164.
  33. ↑ "95th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners Here". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  34. ↑ Ritman, Alex (31 October 2014). "'Leviathan' Claims Top Award at Abu Dhabi Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  35. ↑ "Around the selection 2011 : Caméra d'or". Festival de Cannes. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  36. ↑ "All the 67th Festival de Cannes Awards". Festival de Cannes. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  37. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (11 November 2018). "'Cold War' Leads European Film Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

Further reading

  • Nicholas Albanese, 'Bodies in space: Emplacement in Alice Rohrwacher's Corpo celeste', in The Italianist, 37:2 (2017), pp. 228-242.
  • Silvia Angeli, 'From the margins: Alice Rohrwacher's liminal adolescents', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, 8:3 (2019), pp. 339-356.
  • Laura Di Bianco, 'Ecocinema Ars et Praxis: Alice Rohrwacher's Lazzaro felice', in The Italianist, 40:2 (2020), pp. 151-164.
  • Roberto Interdonato, 'A different spirituality: On Lazzaro's symbolic potency in Alice Rohrwacher's Happy as Lazzaro', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, 11:1 (2023), pp. 145-161.
  • Another Magazine. “Isabella Rossellini on La Chimera and Working with Alice Rohrwacher.” Another Magazine. (https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/15629/isabella-rossellini-interview-la-chimera-alice-rohrwacher-blue-velvet).
  • Associated Press. “Review: La Chimera Is Pure Magic from Italy’s Alice Rohrwacher.” AP News. Accessed November 2025. (https://apnews.com/article/f133cf3688f7d6ccdf171750b11cbdc9).
  • Curzon. “The Films of Alice Rohrwacher.” Curzon Journal. (https://www.curzon.com/journal/the-films-of-alice-rohrwacher/).
  • European Film Academy. “Alice Rohrwacher: European Achievement in World Cinema Award.” European Film Academy. (https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/press/alice-rohrwacher-european-achievement-world-cinema-award/).
  • Emanuel Levy. “Cannes Film Fest Directors: Alice Rohrwacher (Italian).” EmanuelLevy.com. (https://emanuellevy.com/profile/cannes-film-fest-directors-alice-rohrwacher-italian/).
  • Festival de Cannes. “Alice Rohrwacher.” Festival de Cannes. (https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/alice-rohrwacher/).
  • Financial Times. “My Brilliant Sister: An Interview with Alice and Alba Rohrwacher.” Financial Times. (https://www.ft.com/content/acd8a725-f77d-4db6-98dd-8c6245233e3e).
  • Irish Times. “Alice Rohrwacher: ‘I Want My Films to Feel Like Pasolini’s – Like They Are Parables.’” The Irish Times. (https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2024/05/08/alice-rohrwacher-i-want-my-films-to-feel-like-pasolinis-like-they-are-parables/).
  • Los Angeles Times. “‘La Chimera’ Director Alice Rohrwacher Digs Up Film Magic from Deep History.” Los Angeles Times. (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-03-29/alice-rohrwacher-la-chimera-happy-as-lazzaro-le-pupille-interview).
  • Rushing, Robert. “What It Means to Be Human in the Cinema of Alice Rohrwacher.” University of Illinois. (http://faculty.las.illinois.edu/rrushing/470n/ewExternalFiles/What%20it%20means%20to%20be%20human.pdf).
  • Shaughnessy, Nicola. “Remythologising Youth: Alice Rohrwacher’s Cinematic Poetics.” Film-Philosophy 20, no. 3 (2016). (https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/fm_00377_1).
  • Suh, Elissa. “‘We Go from 16 mm to Super 16 to 35 mm’: Alice Rohrwacher on La Chimera.” Filmmaker Magazine. (https://filmmakermagazine.com/125578-interview-alice-rohrwacher-la-chimera/).
  • The Guardian. “Alice Rohrwacher: Tomb-Raiding, Chimera-Hunting and the Looters of Italy.” The Guardian. (https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/06/alice-rohrwacher-tomb-raiding-chimera-looters-josh-o-connor).
  • “Film Director Alice Rohrwacher: ‘Making Images Is a Form of Faith.’” The Guardian. (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/31/alice-rohrwacher-italian-film-director-interview-happy-as-lazzaro).
  • Vogue. “Alice Rohrwacher on La Chimera and the Magic of Rural Italy.” Vogue. (https://www.vogue.com/article/alice-rohrwacher-la-chimera-interview).