Denis Gheerbrant

Whether exploring post-industrial France or the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, Gheerbrant brings a distinctive rigour to all his films. His documentary work is noted for its “oreille absolu” — the sense that Gheerbrant is listening intently to his subjects and establishing genuine relationships with them. Following literary studies, he trained at the French film institute IDHEC. He draws inspiration from still photography and is himself an accomplished photographer and cinematographer. He does the camera work on all his films and has collaborated with such noted directors as René Allio and Jean-Pierre Denis. He did the cinematography for Denis’s feature film Histoire d’Adrien, which won the Caméra d’or at Cannes.

Selected Filmography

Après - Un Voyage dans le Rwanda (2004)

Le voyage à la mer (2000)
Vues sur les docs, Marseilles — Prix Planète

Life is Boundless and Full of Danger (1994)

Et la vie (1990)
Vues sur les docs, Marseille — Prix de la Compétition Internationale et de la SCAM

Histoire d’Adrien (1980) (cinematographer)
Cannes Film Festival — Caméra d’or