Bernard Rose
Bernard Rose (born 1960 in London) is an English filmmaker, considered a pioneer of digital filmmaking. He is best known for directing the horror films Paperhouse (1988) and Candyman (1992), the historical romances Immortal Beloved (1994) and Anna Karenina (1997), and the independent drama Ivans xtc (2000), for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director and the John Cassavetes Award. He has also been nominated for the Grand Prix des Amériques and the Venice Horizons Prize.
Also recorded as Bernard John Max Rose
Bernard Rose

Smdl - Stephane Mace de Lepinay · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Bernard Rose
- Born
- 1960
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Education
- National Film and Television School
- Occupation
- Film director, screenwriter, actor, composer, editor
- Awards
- Golden Brussels Raven 1988 Paperhouse 2015 Frankenstein Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award 1988 Paperhouse Oldenburg German Independence Honorary Award
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
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Bernard Rose (born 1960 in London) is an English filmmaker, considered a pioneer of digital filmmaking. He is best known for directing the horror films Paperhouse (1988) and Candyman (1992), the historical romances Immortal Beloved (1994) and Anna Karenina (1997), and the independent drama Ivans xtc (2000), for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director and the John Cassavetes Award. He has also been nominated for the Grand Prix des Amériques and the Venice Horizons Prize.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
He has frequently cast actors Danny Huston and Tony Todd in his films. In the 1980s, he directed music videos for UB40, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bernard Rose • Born — 1960 • Birthplace — London, England, UK • Education — National Film and Television School • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter, actor, composer, editor • Years Active — 1986–present • Awards — Golden Brussels Raven 1988 Paperhouse 2015 Frankenstein Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award 1988 Paperhouse Oldenburg German Independence Honorary Award
Life and career
Life and career
Rose was born in London, the son of a father who was born Jewish and a mother who had converted to Judaism. His mother was a granddaughter of the Earl Jellicoe. He began making super 8 films when he was 9. By 1975, he won an amateur film competition hosted by BBC which led to the broadcasting of his works. He worked for Jim Henson on the last season of The Muppet Show and then again on The Dark Crystal in 1981. He attended National Film and Television School and graduated in 1982 with a Master's in Filmmaking. After this, he moved on to directing music videos for MTV, one of which was the uncensored version of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's hit "Relax". Shortly after directing music videos, he moved on to direct British TV films such as Prospects and then finally in 1988 directed his first major full-length film, Paperhouse. Rose got his big break internationally with 1992's Candyman, which has since been seen as a cult classic. Subsequently, Rose both wrote and directed Immortal Beloved, about the life and loves of Ludwig van Beethoven, as well as a remake of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. In 2012, Rose directed Two Jacks, a drama based on Leo Tolstoy's short story "Two Hussars," starring Sienna Miller and Danny Huston. In the same year, he released Boxing Day, another Tolstoy adaptation with Huston as a lead for a total of four from the pair (following Ivans Xtc and The Kreutzer Sonata). In 2014, Rose directed the musical drama The Devil's Violinist. This was followed by a contemporary adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Rose directed Samurai Marathon (2019) a Japanese-produced historical drama, and the American drama Traveling Light (2021). In 2023, Rose was announced as the writer/director of Relax, a musical biopic about Frankie Goes to Hollywood, based upon lead singer Holly Johnson's 1994 autobiography A Bone in My Flute, and starring Callum Scott Howells as Johnson. Relax, to be produced by Working Title Films, continues Rose's association with Frankie Goes to Hollywood after directing music videos for the band's songs "Relax" (1983) and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (1985). Rose is a frequent collaborator of actor and filmmaker Danny Huston. Rose is also a contributor to the webseries Trailers from Hell.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Notes • 1986 — Prospects — 2 episodes
Music video
Music video
• Year — Title — Artist • 1983 — "Red Red Wine" — UB40 • "Relax" — Frankie Goes to Hollywood • 1984 — "Smalltown Boy" — Bronski Beat • 1985 — "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" — Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1960
Bernard Rose born at London.
Film
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Notes • 1986 — Smart Money • 1987 — Body Contact • 1988 — Paperhouse • 1990 — Chicago Joe and the Showgirl • 1992 — Candyman • Inside Out III — Segment: "Cafe L'Amour" • Inside Out IV — Segment: "Save the Wetlands" • 1994 — Immortal Beloved • 1997 — Anna Karenina • 2000 — Ivans Xtc • 2005 — Snuff-Movie — Also cinematographer • 2008 — The Kreutzer Sonata • 2010 — Mr. Nice • 2012 — Two Jacks • Boxing Day • 2013 — Sx_Tape • The Devil's Violinist • 2015 — Frankenstein • 2019 — Samurai Marathon — Japanese film • 2021 — Traveling Light — Also producer • TBA — Lear Rex — Post-production
Awards and nominations
• Year — Title — Award/Nomination • 1988 — Paperhouse — BIFFF Golden Raven Award Special Jury Award (Fantasporto) Nominated- Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award • 1992 — Candyman — Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival Audience Award Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival Grand Prize Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Writing Nominated- Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award • 2000 — Ivans Xtc — Nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director Nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award • 2012 — Two Jacks — Nominated for the Hollywood Discovery Award for Best Feature Film Nominated- Grand Prix des Amériques • Boxing Day — Nominated for the Venice Horizons Prize • 2015 — Frankenstein — BIFFF Golden Raven Award
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The authorities additionally record the heading Bernard John Max Rose. His recorded language was English. Recorded as actor, screenwriter, cinematographer, film editor and director.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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