Alice Rohrwacher

Alice Rohrwacher (, ; born 29 December 1981) is an Italian film director, editor and screenwriter. She made her directorial debut with Heavenly Body and gained international attention with The Wonders (2014), which won the Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival).

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.

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.

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.

Filmography Feature films 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 TBAThe Three Incestuous Sisters Post-production

Documentaries

Short films

Other work 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

Accolades