Director and screenwriter. Born 9 November 1948, Denmark. Trained as a cinematographer and photographer in Stockholm before attending the National Film School of Denmark, from where he graduated in cinematography in 1973.
August's international breakthrough came with "Pelle the Conqueror" (1987), which received the Palme d'Or in Cannes in 1988 and an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 1989. August received his second Palme d'Or in 1992 for the Swedish production "The Best Intentions" (1992), written by Ingmar Bergman.
August directed three award-winning films for children and youth in the '80s: "Zappa" (1983), "The World of Buster" (1984) and "Twist and Shout" (1984).
Since the early '90s August has directed a string of big international co-productions, including "The House of the Spirits," "Smilla's Sense of Snow," "Les Misérables," "Return to Sender," "Goodbye Bafana" and "Night Train to Lisbon."
Apart from his numerous film awards Bille August has been honored for his work as a film director with both the Danish and the Swedish Royal Order of Chivalry and the French order Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et Lettres.
August made his first Danish-produced film in 25 years with "Marie Krøyer" (2012). With "Silent Heart" (2014) the director returned to the human drama of his Palme d'Or, Golden Globe and Oscar winner "Pelle the Conqueror" (1987) and his Bergman-scripted "The Best Intentions" (1991).
| Title | Year | Function | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lykke-Per | 2019 | Direction | TV series |
| A Fortunate Man | 2018 | Direction, Screenplay | DK/Feature |
| 55 Steps | 2018 | Direction | |
| Feng huo fang fei | 2017 | Direction | Feature |
| Silent Heart | 2014 | Direction | DK/Feature |
| Night Train to Lisbon | 2013 | Direction | Feature |
| Marie Kroyer | 2012 | Direction | DK/Feature |
| Goodbye Bafana | 2007 | Direction | Feature |
| Return to Sender | 2005 | Direction | DK/Feature |
| Clown | 2005 | Bille | TV series |
| En sång för Martin | 2001 | Direction, Script, Production | DK/Feature |
| Et mælkebøttebarn | 1999 | Sig selv | TV documentary |
| Adventures of Young Indiana Jones | 1999 | Direction | TV series |
| Les misérables | 1998 | Direction | Feature |
| Smilla's feeling for snow | 1997 | Direction | Feature |
| Jerusalem | 1996 | Direction, Script | Feature |
| The house of the spirits | 1993 | Direction, Script | Feature |
| The Best Intentions | 1992 | Direction | Feature |
| Pelle the Conqueror | 1987 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| The World of Buster | 1984 | Direction | DK/Feature |
| Twist and Shout | 1984 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| Zappa | 1983 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| Maj | 1982 | Direction, Script | TV film |
| Sova räv | 1982 | Cinematography | TV film |
| Guldhjertet | 1981 | Direction | DK/Short fiction |
| Gräset sjunger | 1981 | Cinematography | Feature |
| Killing Heat | 1981 | Cinematography | Feature |
| Verden er så stor, så stor | 1980 | Direction, Script | TV film |
| Tomas, a child out of reach | 1980 | Cinematography | DK/Documentary |
| Love | 1980 | Cinematography | Feature |
| Honning måne | 1978 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| Et par dage med Magnus | 1978 | Direction | TV series |
| Hemåt i natten | 1977 | Cinematography | Feature |
| Christiania | 1977 | Cinematographer | DK/Documentary |
| Kim G. - en cykelrytter på Ordrupbanen | 1976 | Direction, Script, Cinematography, Executive producer | DK/Documentary |
| Ø | 1973 | Cinematography | DK/Short fiction |
| Anomi | 1972 | Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Bryd tavsheden | Direction | DK/Commercial |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Release year | Festival | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Male Actor | 1985 | Moscow Int. Film Festival 1985 | Tro, håb og kærlighed |
| Best Actress | 2014 | San Sebastian International Film Festival 2014 | Stille hjerte |
Festivals
| Festival | Festival date | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Moscow - Royal Danish Embassy | 2019-09-15 | Lykke-Per |
| Seattle International Film Festival | 2019-05-16 | Lykke-Per |
| Beijing International Film Festival | 2019-04-15 | Lykke-Per |
| Sofia International Film Festival | 2019-03-07 | Stille hjerte |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2019-01-25 | Lykke-Per |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 2018-10-30 | Lykke-Per |
| Hamburg FilmFest GmbH | 2018-09-27 | Lykke-Per |
| Haugesund, Den Norske Filmfestivalen | 2018-08-18 | Lykke-Per |
| Beijing International Film Festival | 2017-04-16 | Stille hjerte |
| Santa Barbara Int. Film Festival | 2016-02-03 | Stille hjerte |
| Torun, Camerimage | 2015-11-14 | Stille hjerte |
| Haifa International Film Festival | 2015-09-26 | Stille hjerte |
| Helsinki Film Festival - Love & Anarchy | 2015-09-17 | Stille hjerte |
| Haugesund, Den Norske Filmfestivalen | 2015-08-15 | Stille hjerte |
| München International Film Festival | 2015-06-25 | Stille hjerte |
| Shanghai International Film Festival | 2015-06-13 | Stille hjerte |
| Transilvania International Film Festival | 2015-05-29 | Stille hjerte |
| Moscow - Royal Danish Embassy | 2015-04-15 | Stille hjerte |
| Istanbul Int. Film Festival | 2015-04-04 | Stille hjerte |
| Vilnius International Film Festival | 2015-03-19 | Stille hjerte |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2015-01-23 | Stille hjerte |
| Marrakech International Film Festival | 2014-12-05 | Stille hjerte |
| Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 2014-11-14 | Stille hjerte |
| Thessaloniki International Film Festival | 2014-10-31 | Stille hjerte |
| Busan International Film Festival | 2014-10-02 | Stille hjerte |
| Rio de Janeiro Film Festival | 2014-09-24 | Stille hjerte |
| San Sebastian International Film Festival | 2014-09-19 | Stille hjerte |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2014-09-04 | Stille hjerte |
| Seattle International Film Festival | 2013-05-16 | Marie Krøyer |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 2013-01-03 | Marie Krøyer |
| Torun, Camerimage | 2012-11-24 | Marie Krøyer |
| Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 2012-11-13 | Marie Krøyer |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 2012-10-31 | Marie Krøyer |
| Chicago International Film Festival | 2012-10-10 | Marie Krøyer |
| Busan International Film Festival | 2012-10-04 | Marie Krøyer |
| Rio de Janeiro Film Festival | 2012-09-27 | Marie Krøyer |
| Haugesund, Den Norske Filmfestivalen | 2012-08-15 | Marie Krøyer |
| Brussels Int. Filmfestival of Fantasy,Thriller & Science Fiction Films | 2005-03-11 | Return to Sender |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 2005-01-06 | Return to Sender |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2004-09-09 | Return to Sender |
| Berlinale | 1997-02-13 | Smilla's Sense of Snow |
