Florian Zeller

Florian Zeller (; born 28 June 1979) is a French playwright, novelist, theatre director, and filmmaker. He has written over a dozen plays that have been staged worldwide, making him one of the most celebrated contemporary playwrights.

Zeller directed and co-wrote the 2020 film adaptation of his play The Father, earning the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for his screenplay. Since then, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 2020s and the 21st century.

In 2023, Zeller was awarded France's Legion of Honour. In 2025, he joined the prestigious French literary society Académie Française.

Early years and education Florian Zeller was born in Paris in 1979, the middle child of three. His grandmother and mother raised him, as his father worked and lived in Germany.

Plays Zeller's play, The Father, (2014) played in London's West End to critical acclaim and top listings in the Best Plays of the Year. It was considered "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade." and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York. According to The Times, The Father is "one of the greatest plays of the century."

His comedy, The Truth, opened in the West End in June 2017 and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy . His play, The Height of the Storm, starring Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins, opened in London's West End in September 2018 and on New York's Broadway in September 2019. It has been named "best play of 2018" and "one of the best plays of the 21st century" by The Guardian.

His play, The Mother, starring Isabelle Huppert, opened in New York in February 2019. The Son opened in London in February 2019 and transferred to the West End in September 2019 with rave reviews.

His plays have been staged in more than 45 countries.

Feature films

The Father Zeller wrote and directed his first film, 2020's The Father, based on his play. It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 27 January 2020. The film received acclaim from critics, who lauded Hopkins and Colman's performances and praised its depiction of dementia. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 8.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Led by stellar performances and artfully helmed by writer-director Florian Zeller, The Father presents a devastatingly empathetic portrayal of dementia." At Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 88 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

The film received four nominations at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. It also received six nominations at the 74th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, and six Oscar nominations. Zeller and Christopher Hampton won a BAFTA and an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film.

It is, according to The Times, "one of the greatest cinematic experiences of the decade".

In 2021, it was included on Forbess list of "The Top 150 Greatest Films Of The 21st Century." It also ranked number 27 on its list of the "30 Best Drama Movies of All Time",

The Son In March and April 2021, it was announced that Zeller co-wrote with Christopher Hampton, and would direct, their adaptation of The Son (which serves as Zeller's and Hampton's follow-up to The Father), with Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby to star in the film. The film premiered in September 2022 at the Venice Film Festival, eliciting a 10-minute standing ovation after the screening.

Bunker In May 2025, it was announced that Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will star in his upcoming feature, called Bunker. According to Deadline, this psychological thriller "delves into the emotional and moral challenges a couple faces amid the tensions of the world around them, exploring the fears, doubts, and dilemmas that define our era". Filming started in Madrid in December 2025 and wrapped in London in February 2026. .

Personal life Zeller lives in Paris. In 2010, he married ex-model, actress and sculptor Marine Delterme, who played one of the main roles in the Parisian production of his play Le Manège. Their son was born in December 2008. His stepson was born in 1998 to his wife and her previous partner, Jean-Philippe Écoffey.

Works Film Year Title Director Writer Producer 2020 The Father 2022 The Son 2026 Bunker

Plays 2004: L'Autre 2005: Le Manège 2006: Si tu mourais 2008: Elle t'attend 2010: The Mother (2015 in London, 2019 in New York) 2011: The Truth (2017 in London) 2012: Le Père (The Father) (2014 in London, 2016 in New York, adapted into the 2020 film The Father) 2013: Une heure de tranquillité (adapted into the 2014 film Do Not Disturb) 2014: The Lie (2017 in London) 2016: L'Envers du décor (adapted into the 2018 film The Other Woman) 2016: The Height of the Storm (2018 in London, 2019 in New York) 2018: Le Fils (The Son) (2019 in London, adapted into the 2022 film The Son) 2021: The Forest (2021 in London)

Novels 2002: Artificial Snow 2003: Lovers or Something Like It 2004: The Fascination of Evil 2006: Julien Parme 2012: La Jouissance

Awards and nominations Cinema Country Award Work Result Category Ref USA Academy Awards The Father Best Adapted Screenplay Golden Globes Best Motion Picture – Drama Best Screenplay Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best First Film Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Film Best Screenplay Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Breakthrough Director Best First Film Best Director Best Director Satellite Awards Best Film Best Director Hollywood Critics Association Awards Best Film Best Screenplay Nevada Film Critics Society Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Austin Film Critics Association Awards Best Screenplay Europe European Film Awards Best Film Best Director Best European Screenplay Best Film in 2020 Best Director in 2020 Outstanding British Film France Cesar Awards Best International Film Lumière Awards Best International Film Paris Film Critics Awards Best First Film Cinéroman Best Film Spain Premios CEC Best Foreign Film Goya Awards Best European Film San Sebastian Audience Award Best Film Italy Golden Lion The Son Best Film Bunker Best Film Norway Amanda Awards The Father Best International Film Germany Funk Seen Film Festival Awards Audience Award Poland Polish Film Awards Best European Film Sweden Guldbagge Awards Best International Film Swedish Film Critics Circle Awards Best Screenplay Denmark Bodil Awards Best International Film Danish Film Awards Best Screenplay Türkiye Turkish Film Critics Association Best International Film Brazil Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro Best International Film Australia AACTA Awards Best Screenplay Best Film The Son Best International Film Golden Panda Awards Best International Film

Theatre Country Award Work Result Category Ref USA Tony Awards The Father Best Play in 2016 Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Play in 2016 The Height of the Storm Best Play in 2020 Drama League Awards The Father Best Play in 2016 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Play in 2020 UK Laurence Olivier Awards Best Play in 2016 The Truth Best Comedy in 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards The Father Best Play in 2016 Theatre Awards UK Best Play in 2016 Manchester Theatre Awards Best Play in 2018 France Moliere Awards The Father Best Play in 2014 The Mother Best Play in 2011 The Son Best Play in 2018 Prix du théâtre For all his work Best Playwright Académie française Awards If you were to die Best Play in 2006 SACD Awards All his work Best Playwright Japan Kikuta Kazuo Awards The Father Best Play in 2019 Yomiuri Awards Best Play in 2020 Hong Kong Hong Kong Drama Awards Best Play in 2018 The Truth BestPlay in 2018 Canada Jessie Richardson Awards The Father Best Play in 2020 Brazil Aplauso Brazil Awards Best Play in 2017 Israel Academy Theatre Awards Best Play in 2016 Germany Friedrich-Luft Awards Best Play in 2017 Ireland Irish Times Theatre Awards Best Play in 2017 Mexico Cartelera Awards Best Play in 2024 Acpt Awards Best Play in 2024 Colombia Premios Bravo Best Play in 2026

Literature Award Work Result Category Ref Prix Interallié Fascination of Evil Best Novel in 2004