Alice Rohrwacher (, ; born 29 December 1981) is an Italian filmmaker, editor and screenwriter. She made her directorial debut with Heavenly Body (2011) and gained international attention with The Wonders (2014), which won the Grand Prix at the 67th Cannes Film Festival.
She received further acclaim for Happy as Lazzaro (2018), winner of the Best Screenplay at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, and for La chimera (2023), which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
Her short film Le pupille (2022) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. In 2026, she will receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.
Early life 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. These early experiences, marked by communal living, spirituality and the countryside lifestyle, would later strongly influence the themes and imagery of her films.
Her older sister, Alba Rohrwacher, became a prominent Italian actress and has appeared in several of Alice's films, creating a recurring artistic collaboration. Rohrwacher studied Classics at the University of Turin before specializing in screenwriting at the Scuola Holden in Turin.
Career Rohrwacher's first experience in filmmaking came in 2006, when she directed a segment of the Italian documentary Checosamanca, a collaborative project exploring contemporary youth culture in Italy.
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 to critical acclaim. The film introduced many of Rohrwacher's stylistic trademarks, including naturalistic performances, spiritual themes and depictions of adolescence.
Her second feature, The Wonders (Le meraviglie), premiered in competition at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix, gaining her international recognition. In the same year, she was appointed President of the International Jury for the "Luigi De Laurentiis" Venice Award for a Debut Film at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.
In 2015, Rohrwacher directed the short film De Djess, part of the Miu Miu Women's Tales series, starring Alba Rohrwacher and Yanet Mojica. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival's Giornate degli Autori and New York Fashion Week, exploring a magical dress in a surreal seaside hotel setting.Vogue Italia. "De Djess di Alice Rohrwacher per Miu Miu Women's Tales". Retrieved 24 November 2025.i‑D Magazine. "Watch Miu Miu's surreal new short by Alice Rohrwacher". Retrieved 24 November 2025.Mindfood. "De Djess: Miu Miu Tales delight". February 24, 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2025.Vanity Fair Italia. "De Djess: il video". Retrieved 24 November 2025.
In 2017, Rohrwacher began production on her third feature, Happy as Lazzaro (Lazzaro felice), starring Sergi López and her sister Alba Rohrwacher.Vivarelli, Nick (7 August 2017). "Italy's Alice Rohrwacher Shooting 'Lazzaro Felice,' Match Factory Takes World Sales". Retrieved 30 August 2017. The film premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where Rohrwacher won the award for Best Screenplay."71st Festival de Cannes Awards". Festival de Cannes. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024. Happy as Lazzaro was later released internationally on Netflix in December of that year."Awards Announced for 54th Chicago International Film Festival". Cinema Chicago. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
In June 2018, Rohrwacher was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences."ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2024. She later served on the jury of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.Oldham, Stuart (29 April 2019). "Cannes Announces 2019 Jury Members Including Elle Fanning and Yorgos Lanthimos". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
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."95th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners Here". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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."The films of the Official Selection 2023". Festival de Cannes. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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.Roxborough, Scott (23 July 2024). "'Joker 2,' 'Maria,' 'Wolfs' in Venice Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter.
In 2025, Rohrwacher was appointed Jury President of the Caméra d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival."Alice Rohrwacher, President of the Caméra d'or Jury". Festival de Cannes. 18 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025. In 2026, she is scheduled to receive the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award.Cineuropa. "The European Film Awards honour Alice Rohrwacher with the European Achievement in World Cinema Award". 5 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
Style 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.Joon-ho, Bong (25 February 2020). "Bong Joon Ho's 20 upcoming directors for the 2020s". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
Her films frequently focus on adolescence and youth, exploring the inner lives of young characters as they navigate moral, social and spiritual challenges.Nicholas Albanese, 'Bodies in space: Emplacement in Alice Rohrwacher's Corpo celeste', in The Italianist, 37:2 (2017), pp. 228-242.
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.Silvia Angeli, 'From the margins: Alice Rohrwacher's liminal adolescents', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, 8:3 (2019), pp. 339-356.
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.Laura Di Bianco, 'Ecocinema Ars et Praxis: Alice Rohrwacher's Lazzaro felice', in The Italianist, 40:2 (2020), pp. 151-164.
Filmography Feature films Year English Title Original Title Director Screenwriter Notes 2011 Heavenly Body Corpo celeste 2014 The Wonders Le meraviglie Grand Prix at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival 2018 Happy as Lazzaro Lazzaro Felice Best Screenplay at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival 2023 La chimera TBAThe Three Incestuous Sisters Post-production
Documentaries Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes 2006 Checosamanca Italian documentary exploring youth culture2014 9x10 novanta segment: "Una canzone"2021 Futura Co-directed with Pietro Marcello and Francesco Munzi
Short films Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes2015De Djess Part of Miu Miu Women's Tales series, premiered at the Venice Film Festival2022 Le pupille Nominated for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film; produced by Alfonso Cuarón2024An Urban Allegory Premiered out of competition at 81st Venice International Film Festival; co-directed with JR
Other work Year Title Director Screenwriter Cinematographer Editor Notes 2005 Un piccolo spettacolo Documentary film 2008 Boygo Short film Tradurre Documentary film 2009 In tempo, ma rubato Documentary film Residuo fisso Documentary short 2020 My Brilliant Friend Television series; 2 episodes Ad una mela Trailer for the Vienna International Film Festival
Accolades Award Year Category Work Result Academy Awards 2022 Best Live Action Short Film Le pupille Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2014 Black Pearl Award The Wonders British Independent Film Awards 2024 Best International Independent Film La chimera Cannes Film Festival 2011 Caméra d'Or Heavenly Body 2014 Grand Prix The Wonders 2018 Best Screenplay Happy as Lazzaro 2021 L'Œil d'or Futura 2023 Palme d'Or La chimera Chicago International Film Festival 2018 Gold Hugo Happy as Lazzaro 2023 La Chimera Ciak d'oro 2012 Best First Feature eavenly Body 2023 Best Film – Drama La chimera Best Director David di Donatello 2011 Best New Director Heavenly Body 2019 Best Film Happy as Lazzaro Best Director Best Original Screenplay 2022 Best DocumentaryFutura 2024 Best FilmLa chimera Best Director Best Original Screenplay European Film Awards 2018 European Film Happy as Lazzaro European Director European Screenwriter European University Film Award 2026 European Achievement in World Cinema Filmfest München 2014 CineVision Award The Wonders Gothenburg Film Festival 2012 Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award Heavenly Body Globo d'oro 2019 Best Director Happy as Lazzaro Best Screenplay 2024 Best Director La chimera Independent Spirit Awards 2019 Best International Film Happy as Lazzaro London Film Critics' Circle Award 2024 Film of the Year La chimera Foreign Language Film of the Year Manchester Film Festival 2024 Golden Bee for Best Feature Film La chimera Nastro d'Argento 2011 Best New Director Heavenly Body 2023 Nastro d’Argento speciale Le pupille 2024 Best Director La chimera Best Screenplay Telluride Film Festival 2023 Silver Medallion UK Film Festival2018Best Feature FilmHappy as Lazzaro Valladolid International Film Festival 2023 Golden Spike Award La chimera Silver Spike Award
References
Further reading Nicholas Albanese, 'Bodies in space: Emplacement in Alice Rohrwacher's Corpo celeste', in The Italianist, 37:2 (2017), pp. 228-242. Silvia Angeli, 'From the margins: Alice Rohrwacher's liminal adolescents', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies, 8:3 (2019), pp. 339-356. Laura Di Bianco, 'Ecocinema Ars et Praxis: Alice Rohrwacher's Lazzaro felice', in The Italianist, 40:2 (2020), pp. 151-164. Roberto Interdonato, 'A different spirituality: On Lazzaro's symbolic potency in Alice Rohrwacher's Happy as Lazzaro''', in Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies'', 11:1 (2023), pp. 145-161. Another Magazine. “Isabella Rossellini on La Chimera and Working with Alice Rohrwacher.” Another Magazine. (https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/15629/isabella-rossellini-interview-la-chimera-alice-rohrwacher-blue-velvet). Associated Press. “Review: La Chimera Is Pure Magic from Italy's Alice Rohrwacher.” AP News. Accessed November 2025. (https://apnews.com/article/f133cf3688f7d6ccdf171750b11cbdc9). Curzon. “The Films of Alice Rohrwacher.” Curzon Journal. (https://www.curzon.com/journal/the-films-of-alice-rohrwacher/). European Film Academy. “Alice Rohrwacher: European Achievement in World Cinema Award.” European Film Academy. (https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/press/alice-rohrwacher-european-achievement-world-cinema-award/). Emanuel Levy. “Cannes Film Fest Directors: Alice Rohrwacher (Italian).” EmanuelLevy.com. (https://emanuellevy.com/profile/cannes-film-fest-directors-alice-rohrwacher-italian/). Festival de Cannes. “Alice Rohrwacher.” Festival de Cannes. (https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/alice-rohrwacher/). Financial Times. “My Brilliant Sister: An Interview with Alice and Alba Rohrwacher.” Financial Times. (https://www.ft.com/content/acd8a725-f77d-4db6-98dd-8c6245233e3e).