Pier Paolo Pasolini

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Lore & Background

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. Her older sister, Alba Rohrwacher, became a prominent Italian actress and has appeared in several of Alice's films. Rohrwacher studied Classics at the University of Turin before specializing in screenwriting at the Scuola Holden in Turin. Her first experience in filmmaking came in 2006, when she directed a segment of the Italian documentary Checosamanca. 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. Her second feature, The Wonders (Le meraviglie), premiered in competition at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix. In 2015, Rohrwacher directed the short film De Djess, part of the Miu Miu Women's Tales series, starring Alba Rohrwacher and Yanet Mojica. In 2017, she 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. 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.

Reader's Guide

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.

Did You Know?

• Rohrwacher's father, Reinhard Rohrwacher, worked as a beekeeper.
• She studied Classics at the University of Turin before specializing in screenwriting at the Scuola Holden.
• Her short film Le pupille (2022) was produced by Alfonso Cuarón.
• In 2025, she was appointed Jury President of the Caméra d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
• She is scheduled to receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award in 2026.