Alice Rohrwacher

Her short film Le pupille (2022) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. In 2026, she will receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.

Alice Rohrwacher studied at University of Turin. The recorded working language is Italian and German. The field of work recorded is film. Work by Alice Rohrwacher is recorded in the collections of Museum of Modern Art. Distinctions recorded are European University Film Award, Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director, Ciak d'oro - Best first work by an Italian director and European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.

• Name — Alice Rohrwacher • Born — 29 December 1981 • Birthplace — Fiesole, Tuscany, Italy • Education — University of Turin • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter, editor • Years Active — 2005–present • Relatives — Alba Rohrwacher (sister)

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. 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. These early experiences, marked by communal living, spirituality and the countryside lifestyle, would later strongly influence the themes and imagery of her films. Her older sister, Alba Rohrwacher, became a prominent Italian actress and has appeared in several of Alice's films, creating a recurring artistic collaboration. Rohrwacher studied Classics at the University of Turin before specializing in screenwriting at the Scuola Holden in Turin.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2017, Rohrwacher began production on her third feature, Happy as Lazzaro (Lazzaro felice), starring Sergi López and her sister Alba Rohrwacher. The film premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where Rohrwacher won the award for Best Screenplay. Happy as Lazzaro was later released internationally on Netflix in December of that year. In June 2018, Rohrwacher was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She later served on the jury of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. 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. 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. 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. In 2025, Rohrwacher was appointed Jury President of the Caméra d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. In 2026, she is scheduled to receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.

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

• Year — Title — Director — Screenwriter — Notes • 2006 — Checosamanca — Italian documentary exploring youth culture • 2014 — 9x10 novanta — segment: "Una canzone" • 2021 — Futura — Co-directed with Pietro Marcello and Francesco Munzi

• Year — Title — Director — Screenwriter — Cinematographer — Editor — Notes • 2005 — Un piccolo spettacolo — Documentary film • 2008 — Boygo — Short film • Tradurre — Documentary film • 2009 — In tempo, ma rubato — Documentary film • Residuo fisso — Documentary short • 2020 — My Brilliant Friend — Television series; 2 episodes • Ad una mela — Trailer for the Vienna International Film Festival

• Award — Year — Category — Work — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • Academy Awards — 2022 — Best Live Action Short Film — Le pupille • Abu Dhabi Film Festival — 2014 — Black Pearl Award — The Wonders • British Independent Film Awards — 2024 — Best International Independent Film — La chimera • Cannes Film Festival — 2011 — Caméra d'Or — Heavenly Body • 2014 — Grand Prix — The Wonders • 2018 — Best Screenplay — Happy as Lazzaro • 2021 — L'Œil d'or — Futura • 2023 — Palme d'Or — La chimera • Chicago International Film Festival — 2018 — Gold Hugo — Happy as Lazzaro • 2023 — La Chimera • Ciak d'oro — 2012 — Best First Feature — eavenly Body • 2023 — Best Film – Drama — La chimera • Best Director • David di Donatello — 2011 — Best New Director — Heavenly Body • 2019 — Best Film — Happy as Lazzaro • Best Director • Best Original Screenplay • 2022 — Best Documentary — Futura • 2024 — Best Film — La chimera • Best Director • Best Original Screenplay • European Film Awards — 2018 — European Film — Happy as Lazzaro • European Director • European Screenwriter • European University Film Award • 2026 — European Achievement in World Cinema • Filmfest München — 2014 — CineVision Award — The Wonders • Gothenburg Film Festival — 2012 — Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award — Heavenly Body • Globo d'oro — 2019 — Best Director — Happy as Lazzaro • Best Screenplay • 2024 — Best Director — La chimera • Independent Spirit Awards — 2019 — Best International Film — Happy as Lazzaro • London Film Critics' Circle Award — 2024 — Film of the Year — La chimera • Foreign Language Film of the Year • Manchester Film Festival — 2024 — Golden Bee for Best Feature Film — La chimera • Nastro d'Argento — 2011 — Best New Director — Heavenly Body • 2023 — Nastro d’Argento speciale — Le pupille • 2024 — Best Director — La chimera • Best Screenplay • Telluride Film Festival — 2023 — Silver Medallion • UK Film Festival — 2018 — Best Feature Film — Happy as Lazzaro • Valladolid International Film Festival — 2023 — Golden Spike Award — La chimera • Silver Spike Award

Alice Rohrwacher is recorded as having received European University Film Award, Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director and Ciak d'oro - Best first work by an Italian director.

• Year — English Title — Original Title — Director — Screenwriter — Notes • 2011 — Heavenly Body — Corpo celeste • 2014 — The Wonders — Le meraviglie — Grand Prix at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival • 2018 — Happy as Lazzaro — Lazzaro Felice — Best Screenplay at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival • 2023 — La chimera • TBA — The Three Incestuous Sisters — Post-production

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