Catherine Breillat
Biography
Catherine Breillat, born on 13 July 1948 in Bressuire, Deux‑Sèvres, Poitou‑Charentes, France, is a French filmmaker and novelist. She is also a Professor of Auteur Cinema at the European Graduate School. Recognised primarily for her work as a director, Breillat has accumulated fifty‑nine credited entries in film and television according to the Movie Database. Her professional profile lists her gender as female and notes her current age as seventy‑eight years. In addition to directing, she has contributed to a range of cinematic projects, reflecting a career that spans several decades within French and international cinema.
Career overview
Catherine Breillat was born on 13 July 1948 in Bressuire, a commune in the department of Deux‑Sèvres, located in the Poitou‑Charentes region of France. She is a French filmmaker who has built a career primarily behind the camera, being recognised for her work as a director. In addition to directing, Breillat is also a novelist and holds an academic position as Professor of Auteur Cinema at the European Graduate School, where she contributes to the study and teaching of film authorship.
The public record lists her as having 59 known credits in the capacity of director, indicating a substantial body of work across film and television. Her professional profile is identified by the gender female, and she is noted in the industry for her contributions to directing, a role that defines the majority of her listed credits. Breillat’s career therefore spans creative authorship in both narrative writing and cinematic direction, complemented by her involvement in higher education where she imparts expertise on auteur theory and practice. Her sustained activity in these fields reflects a long‑standing engagement with French and international cinema, anchored by her origins in Bressuire and her ongoing affiliation with the European Graduate School.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- No Mercy (2026) as Self
- Prüdes Hollywood - Laster, Lust und Leidenschaft im Film (2025)
- Last Summer (2023) Director
- Last Summer (2023) Writer
- 30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing (2019) as (voice)
- 30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing (2019) Director
- Marcians (2017) as Self
- Les réalisatrices contemporaines: l'état des choses (2016) as Self
- Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013) as Self (segment Catherine Breillat)
- Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013) Director
- Abuse of Weakness (2013) as Une Patiente à l'Hôpital (uncredited)
- Abuse of Weakness (2013) Costume Design
- Abuse of Weakness (2013) Director
- Abuse of Weakness (2013) Screenplay
- Abuse of Weakness (2013) Casting
- Catherine Breillat: The First Time (2013) as Self
- Images of Women of the Social Corset (2011) as Self
- Bluebeard (2010) Director
- Bluebeard (2010) Screenplay
- The Sleeping Beauty (2010) Director
- The Sleeping Beauty (2010) Screenplay
- Mutantes: Punk Porn Feminism (2009) as Self - Interviewee
- Great Directors (2009) as Self
- Paris-Berlin, le débat (2008) as Self
- Indie Sex: Teens (2008)
- Indie Sex (2007) as Self
- The Last Mistress (2007) Director
- The Last Mistress (2007) Screenplay
- On n'est pas couché (2006) as Self - Guest
- Si je reste (un peu) (2006) Director
- French Beauty (2005) as Self
- Anatomy of Hell (2004) as Narrator (voice)
- Anatomy of Hell (2004) Screenplay
- Anatomy of Hell (2004) Director
- Anatomy of Hell (2004) Novel
- Masculin/Féminin (2003) Director
- The Housekeeper (2002) as Constance
- Sex Is Comedy (2002) Director
- Sex Is Comedy (2002) Writer
- Children of Salò (2002) as Self
- Fat Girl (2001) Director
- Fat Girl (2001) Screenplay
- Brief Crossing (2001) Director
- Brief Crossing (2001) Writer
- To Mathieu (2001) Writer
- Salò: Fade to Black (2001) as Self
- Filming Desire: A Journey Through Women’s Cinema (2000) as Self
- Romance (1999) Director
- Romance (1999) Screenplay
- Romance (1999) Dialogue
- Beware of My Love (1998) Writer
- Viens jouer dans la cour des grands (1997) Writer
- Perfect Love (1996) Director
- Perfect Love (1996) Screenplay
- Concerning Nice (1995) Director
- Couples et amants (1993) Writer
- Le Secret d'Elissa Rhaïs (1993) Writer
- La nuit de l'océan (1992) Writer
- La thune (1991) Writer
- Dirty Like an Angel (1991) Director
- Dirty Like an Angel (1991) Writer
- Adventure of Catherine C. (1990) Screenplay
- Zanzibar (1989) Writer
- 36 Fillette (1988) Author
- 36 Fillette (1988) Director
- 36 Fillette (1988) Screenplay
- Milan noir (1987) Writer
- The Satin Spider (1986) Screenplay
- Police (1985) Screenplay
- Police (1985) Idea
- The Eyes, the Mouth (1982) Writer
- The Skin (1981) Screenplay
- Nocturnal Uproar (1979) Writer
- Nocturnal Uproar (1979) Director
- Bilitis (1977) Screenplay
- Bilitis (1977) Dialogue
- A Real Young Girl (1976) Novel
- A Real Young Girl (1976) Screenplay
- A Real Young Girl (1976) Director
- A Real Young Girl (1976) Production Design
- A Real Young Girl (1976) Lyricist
- Dracula and Son (1976) as Herminie Poitevin
- Catherine & Co. (1975) Screenplay
- Une saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel (1973)
- Le dialogue dans le marécage (1973) as L'autre
- Last Tango in Paris (1972) as Mouchette
- Samedi soir (1971) as Self
- The German Cousin Director
- The German Cousin Screenplay