Tony Gatlif’s dual ancestry has served as a rich source of inspiration for his work as an artist.
Born in 1948 in Algeria to Romani parents of Spanish descent, Michel Dahamani (known as Tony Gatlif) was later educated at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Despite taking residence in France, Gatlif returns time and time again to his true origin – the Roma community – in a passionate quest for self-examination. From his second feature film, La Terre au Ventre (1978), which references the Algerian war, to Les Princes (1982), an uncompromising description of Roma who have settled in a soulless suburb, Gatlif’s early works focused on the unromantic reality of ‘Gypsy’ life.
His later works, including the much acclaimed Latcho Drom (1993) and Gadjo Dilo (1997), are vivid songs of joy celebrating Romani culture with a focus on the vibrant traditional music which breathes life into the ‘Gypsy’ people.
Filmography
1975 - La tête en ruines
1978 - La terre au ventre
1982 - Canta Gitano (Short)
1983 - Les princes
1986 - The Way Out
1989 - Pleure pas my love
1990 - Gaspard et Robinson
1993 - Latcho Drom (Documentary)
1995 - Mondo
1995 - Lucumi, l’enfant rumbeiro de Cuba (Short)
1997 - Gadjo Dilo
1999 - Je suis né d’une cigogne
2000 - Vengo
2002 - Gypsy Swing
2004 - Visions of Europe (segment »Paris by Night«)
2004 - Exils
2006 - Transylvania
2009 - Korkora
2012 - Indignados (Documentary)
2014 - Geronimo
2017 - Djam
Awards
1983 - César Awards, France Nominated César Best Short Film – Fiction (Meilleur court-métrage de fiction) Canta Gitano (1982)
1984 Chicago International Film Festival Nominated Gold Hugo Best Feature Les princes (1983)
1984 Taormina International Film Festival won Golden Charybdis Les princes (1983)
1993 Cannes Film Festival won Un Certain Regard Award Latcho Drom (1993)
1993 Munich Film Festival won One Future Prize Latcho Drom (1993)
1997, São Paulo International Film Festival 2nd place Audience Award Best Feature Gadjo dilo (1997)
1997 Montréal World Film Festival Won Grand Prix Special des Amériques Les princes (1983); Latcho Drom (1993); Gadjo dilo (1997)
1997 Locarno International Film Festival won Silver Leopard Gadjo dilo (1997)
1997 Locarno International Film Festival Won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Gadjo dilo (1997)
1998 Brussels International Film Festival Nominated Crystal Star Best European Feature Gadjo dilo (1997)
1998 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival won Adult’s Jury Award – Certificate of Merit Feature Film and Video Mondo (1995)
1998 Tromsø International Film Festival won Audience Award Gadjo dilo (1997)
1998 Paris Film Festival Won Public Prize Gadjo dilo (1997)
1999 César Awards, France won César Best Music (Meilleure musique) Gadjo dilo (1997)
1999 Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film Nominated Golden Bayard Best Film (Meilleur Film Francophone) Je suis né d’une cigogne (1999)
2001 César Awards, France won César Best Music (Meilleure musique) Vengo (2000). Shared with: Tomatito, Sheikh Ahmad Al Tuni, La Caita
2001 Istanbul International Film Festival won Special Prize of the Jury International Competition Vengo (2000)
2004 Seville European Film Festival won RTVA Award Exils (2004)
2004 Cannes Film Festival won Best Director Exils (2004)
2004 Cannes Film Festival Nominated Palme d’Or Exils (2004)
2005 César Awards, France Nominated César Best Music Written for a Film (Meilleure musique écrite pour un film) Exils (2004). Shared with: Delphine Mantoulet
2006 Ghent International Film Festival won Georges Delerue Prize Transylvania (2006). Shared with: Delphine Mantoulet
2006 Ghent International Film Festival Nominated Grand Prix Transylvania (2006)
2009 Montréal World Film Festival won Grand Prix des Amériques Korkoro (2009)
2009 Montréal World Film Festival Won Most Popular Film of the Festival Korkoro (2009)
2009 Montréal World Film Festival Won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention Korkoro (2009)
2010 Jerusalem Film Festival won In Spirit for Freedom Award – Honorable Mention Best Feature Korkoro (2009)
2010 Amiens International Film Festival won Golden Unicorn for Career Achievement
2011 César Awards, France Nominated César Best Music Written for a Film (Meilleure musique écrite pour un film) Korkoro (2009). Shared with: Delphine Mantoulet