Teddy Lussi-Modeste is a director and scriptwriter from France. He was born in 1978 and grew up in La Tronche, near Grenoble, in a Sinto, Manush Romani community. He first studied modern literature at the University of Grenoble, then graduated as a scriptwriter from the French film school La Fémis in 2004.

He directed three short films, Embrasser les tigres (2004), Dans l’oeil (2006) and Je viens (2008). His first feature film, Jimmy Riviére (2011), follows the story of a young Roma man who gives up his passion, boxing, in order to convert to Pentecostalism, a Protestant Christian movement. The film received the Audience Award at the Angers Premiers Plans Film Festival in 2011.

His second feature film, Le prix du succès (The Price of Success, 2017), portraying the family relationships and career struggles of a comedian, premiered at the 42nd Toronto Film Festival.

Filmography

2017 Le prix du succès

2011 Jimmy Rivière, Audience Award at the Angers Premiers Plans Festival

2008 Je viens, short film

2006 Dans l’oeil, short film

2004 Embrasser les tigres, short film