Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire (born 31 December 1968), is a French filmmaker, producer and screenwriter.[1] He is best known as the director of films Johnny Mad Dog, A Prayer Before Dawn and Asphalt City.

Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Born
Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

(1968-12-31) December 31, 1968 (age 55)
NationalityFrench
Occupation(s)Director, producer, screenwriter
Years active1993–present

Personal life

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Sauvaire was born on 31 December 1968 in Paris, France. He currently lives in New York City.

Career

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In 1991, he started film career as a first assistant director of the film Les Nuits Fauves by Cyril Collard. Then he joined the crew for the films Les Demons de Jesus and Les Grandes Bouches directed by Bernie Bonvoisin, I Stand Alone by Gaspar Noé, Sous Les Pieds Des Femmes directed by Rachida Krim, Hors Jeu by Karim Dridi, Louise (Take 2) by Siegfried and Love Me by Laetitia Masson. He continued to work as the assistant director until 2000. At the end of 2000, he directed his three short films, La Mule (co-directed with Rossy De Palma), A Dios and Matalo. In all these three short films, he used the theme of violence among adolescents.

In 2008, he made the film Johnny Mad Dog co-produced with Mathieu Kassovitz. The film was later presented in the Official Selection, 'Un Certain Regard' section at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Prix de l'Espoir. The film was an adaptation of the novel 'Johnny Chien Méchant' written by Congolese writer Emmanuel Dongala.[2] It tells the story of a group of child soldiers fighting for the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels in 2003, during the latter part of the Second Liberian Civil War.

After the success of the film, he directed a telefilm Punk in 2012, which was co-produced by Arte, with Paul Bartel and Béatrice Dalle.[3] In 2017, he made the film A Prayer Before Dawn which was adapted from the story of Billy Moore. The film received an official selection at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in 2017.

In 2023, Sauvaire directed Black Flies, an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Shannon Burke, with Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan. The film is selected in competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023.

Filmography

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Year Film Role Genre Ref.
2000 La mule Director, writer Short film
2001 A Dios Director, writer, cinematographer Documentary short
2004 Carlitos Medellin [fr] Director, cinematographer, editor Documentary
2005 Matalo! Director, writer, cinematographer Short film
2008 Johnny Mad Dog Director, writer, producer Film
2011 Heat Wave Producer Film
2012 Punk Director, writer TV movie
2014 Welcome to New York Actor: Male Journalist Film
2015 Bizarre Producer Film
2017 A Prayer Before Dawn Director, associate producer Film [4]
2023 Asphalt City Director Film
TBD Addicted to Violence Director, writer Film

References

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  1. ^ "Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire". cineserie. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. ^ ""Yes, I will make the film on the Heysel"". sudinfo. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Marie-Ange Casta, Paul Bartel et Béatrice Dalle dans Punk, ce soir". leblogtvnews. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire: A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN". Atlanta Film Festival. Retrieved 11 November 2020.[permanent dead link]
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