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Tony Gatlif, acclaimed French director, dies at 77
French filmmaker Tony Gatlif has died at the age of 77. He passed away on September 2, 2026, in Arles, France, due to health issues while preparing a new historical film project.
Born Michel Dahmani in Algeria in 1948 to a Kabyle father and a Romani mother, Gatlif moved to France in the early 1960s. He became a prominent voice in cinema, dedicating much of his career to exploring Romani culture, migration, and identity through music and movement. His filmography includes approximately 25 works, most notably ‘Gadjo Dilo’ (1997), which was filmed in Romania, and ‘Exils’ (2004), for which he won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.
French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard paid tribute to his work, noting his focus on ‘side roads, for borders that fade away, and for lives we pay too little attention to.’ His family honored his memory with the Romani expression ‘Latcho Drom,’ meaning ‘safe journey,’ which was also the title of one of his most iconic films.
Entities
Algeria · Arles · Cannes Film Festival · Catherine Pégard · France · Michel Dahamani · Romain Duris · Tony Gatlif
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] He was working on a historical film project at the time of his death. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Tony Gatlif died on Wednesday at the age of 77. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Tony Gatlif's family announced his death on Friday. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] He directed approximately 25 films since 1975. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] He died in Arles due to a health problem. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Born Michel Dahamani on September 10, 1948, he was of Kabyle and Romani descent. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] His most recent feature film, 'Ange', was released in 2025. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] His film 'Exils' won the Best Director award at Cannes in 2004. www.la-croix.com · www.sudouest.fr