View source for Bille August

{{short description|Danish film director and screenwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Bille August
| honorific_suffix   = [[Order of the Dannebrog|R.]]
| image              = Bille August (cropped).jpg
| caption            = August in 2008
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1948|11|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Brede, Denmark|Brede]], Denmark
| occupation         = Film director
| years_active       = 1978–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Pernilla August]]|1991|1997|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Sara-Marie Maltha|2012|2024|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Michelle Liebetrau|2025}}
}}
| children           = 8, including [[Anders August|Anders]], [[Alba August|Alba]] and [[Asta Kamma August|Asta]]
}}

'''Bille August''' {{small|[[Order of the Dannebrog|R.]]}} ({{IPA|da|ˈpilə ˈɑwkɔst|lang}}; born 9 November 1948) is a Danish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer of film and television.

August's 1987 film ''[[Pelle the Conqueror]]'' won the {{Lang|fr|[[Palme d'Or]]|italic=no}}, [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]]. He is one of only ten directors to win the {{Lang|fr|Palme d'Or|italic=no}} twice, winning the award again in 1992 for ''[[The Best Intentions]]'', based on the autobiographical script by [[Ingmar Bergman]].

His filmography includes ''[[The House of the Spirits (film)|The House of the Spirits]]'', based on the novel by [[Isabel Allende]]; ''[[Smilla's Sense of Snow (film)|Smilla's Sense of Snow]]''; ''[[Les Misérables (1998 film)|Les Misérables]]''; ''[[Night Train to Lisbon (film)|Night Train to Lisbon]]'', ''[[Silent Heart]]'', ''[[The Chinese Widow]]'' and ''[[A Fortunate Man]]''. He has received five [[Robert Awards]] (including [[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film|Best Film]] and [[Robert Award for Best Director|Best Director]]) and three [[Bodil Awards]] for [[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film|Best Danish Film]]. He is also a [[Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog]].

== Life and career ==
August was born on 9 November 1948, in [[Brede, Denmark]].<ref>{{cite book|title=501 Movie Directors|editor-first=Steven Jay|editor-last=Schneider|publisher=Cassell Illustrated|location=London|year=2007|page=519|isbn=9781844035731|oclc=1347156402}}</ref> After attending local schools, he graduated from the Foto- och Dokumentärskolan in Stockholm, Sweden, and later from the [[National Film School of Denmark]]. He began his career as a cinematographer. He made his feature directorial debut in 1978 with [[In My Life (1978 film)|''In My Life'']], which won the [[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film]].

He collaborated twice with then wife [[Pernilla August]] under [[George Lucas]] on ''[[The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles|The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones]]'' in The Perils of Cupid and Tales of Innocence. Pernilla would later star in the first two films of the [[Star Wars prequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy]] and appeared in an episode of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]'' television series to reprise her role from the films.

After decades of writing, directing and producing notable films in Denmark, on 23 September 2011, Bille August announced that he had opened a studio in [[Hangzhou]], China and taken a position as Tianpeng Media's Art Director, in order to produce Chinese films for Tianpeng Media over the next few years. Tianpeng Media is a new media company established in 2010. The company produced two films, ''The Women Knight of Mirror'' (竞雄女侠秋瑾) and ''The Years of Qi Xiao Fu'' (七小福之燃情岁月), to be released later in 2011. He is the first foreign director to be hired by the Chinese film company. In 2011, August also accepted the invitation from the Hangzhou government to serve as a "culture consultant" for the city.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?academy_award-winning_director_bille_august_opens_his_studio_in_hangzhou_17467.aspx | title = Academy Award-winning director Bille August opens his studio in Hangzhou | publisher = Asia Pacific arts | date = 10 April 2011 | access-date = 2 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130826042544/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?academy_award-winning_director_bille_august_opens_his_studio_in_hangzhou_17467.aspx | archive-date = 26 August 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

His film ''[[Night Train to Lisbon (film)|Night Train to Lisbon]]'' (2013) premiered out of competition at the [[63rd Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlin">{{Cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_16724.html |title=Berlinale 2013: Competition Now Complete |access-date=25 January 2013 |work=berlinale |archive-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410152015/https://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_16724.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had planned to direct a ''[[Gianni Versace]]'' [[biopic]] with [[Antonio Banderas]] as Versace, but this project was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bille-august-antonio-banderas-cancel-versace-project-1020993/|title=Antonio Banderas Cancels 'Versace' Project|access-date=13 July 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/bille-august-set-to-direct-versace-biopic-with-antonio-banderas-1201938081/|title=Bille August Set to Direct ''Versace'' Biopic With Antonio Banderas|access-date=10 December 2016|magazine=Variety}}</ref> In August 2021, it was announced that August would direct a [[Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction|feature film adaptation]] of [[Karen Blixen]]'s novel ''Ehrengard'', which is being produced by [[Netflix]] and [[SF Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bille August To Direct Karen Blixen's ''Ehrengard'' For Netflix & SF Studios |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/bille-august-direct-karen-blixens-ehrengard-netflix-sf-studios-1234824685/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=Grater |first=Tom |date=31 August 2021|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
'''Director'''
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
|1978
|[[In My Life (1978 film)|''In My Life'']]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|1983
|''[[Zappa (1983 film)|Zappa]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1984
|''[[Busters verden]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|[[Twist and Shout (film)|''Twist and Shout'']]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
| 1987
|''[[Pelle the Conqueror]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
| 1992
|''[[The Best Intentions]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1993
|''[[The House of the Spirits (film)|The House of the Spirits]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Jerusalem (1996 film)|Jerusalem]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Smilla's Sense of Snow (film)|Smilla's Sense of Snow]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Les Misérables (1998 film)|Les Misérables]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2001
|''[[A Song for Martin]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Also producer
|-
|2004
|''[[Return to Sender (2004 film)|Return to Sender]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
|''[[Goodbye Bafana]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|''[[To Each His Own Cinema]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Segment "The Last Dating Show"
|-
|2012
|''[[The Passion of Marie]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2013
|''[[Night Train to Lisbon (film)|Night Train to Lisbon]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2014
|''[[Silent Heart]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|''[[The Chinese Widow]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|''[[55 Steps]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2018
|''[[A Fortunate Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2021
|''[[The Pact (2021 film)|The Pact]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2022
|''[[The Kiss (2023 film)|The Kiss]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2023
|''[[Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
| 
|}

'''Director of photography'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
!  Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1977
|''Christiania''
|Flemming Colstrup<br>Ove Nyholm
|Documentary film
|-
|''Hemåt i natten''
|Jon Lindström
|
|-
|1978
|''[[Men Can't Be Raped]]''
|[[Jörn Donner]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1980
|''Love''
|[[Theodor Kallifatides]]
|
|-
|''Mördare! Mördare!''
|Jon Lindström
|
|-
|''Tomas: A Child You Cannot Reach''
|[[Lone Hertz]]
|Documentary film
|-
|1981
|''[[Killing Heat]]''
|[[Michael Raeburn]]
|
|-
| 1982
|''Sova räv''
|[[Gun Jönsson]]
|
|}

=== Television ===
'''Miniseries'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!Director
!Writer
|-
|1978
|''Et par dage med Magnus''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|2024
|''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (2024 TV series)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|}

'''TV movies'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!Director
!Writer
|-
|1980
|''Verden er så stor, så stor''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|1982
|''Maj''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|2003
|''Detaljer'' 
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|}

'''TV series'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
|1993
|''[[The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles]]''
|2 episodes
|-
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
|1978
|[[In My Life (1978 film)|''In My Life'']]
|[[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Chicago International Film Festival|Chicago Gold Hugo]]<br>Nominated- [[Moscow International Film Festival|Golden Moscow Prize]]
|-
|1983
|''[[Zappa (1983 film)|Zappa]]''
|Nominated- [[Moscow International Film Festival|Golden Moscow Prize]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |1984
|''[[Busters verden]]''
|[[Berlin International Film Festival|UNICEF Award]]<br>[[Berlin International Film Festival|C.I.F.E.J. Prize of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Busters Verden Awards|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087013/awards|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2020-07-24}}</ref>
|-
|[[Twist and Shout (film)|''Twist and Shout'']]
|[[Robert Award for Best Screenplay]]<br>[[Berlin International Film Festival|UNICEF Award]]<br>[[Berlin International Film Festival|C.I.F.E.J. Prize of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth]]<br>Nominated- [[Moscow International Film Festival|Golden Moscow Prize]]
|-
| 1987
|''[[Pelle the Conqueror]]''
|{{Lang|fr|[[Palme d'Or]]|italic=no}}<ref name="cannes-1988.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/299/year/1988.html|title=Festival de Cannes: Pelle the Conqueror|work=festival-cannes.com|access-date=27 July 2009}}</ref><br>[[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>[[Robert Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>[[Robert Award for Best Screenplay]]<br>[[Guldbagge Award for Best Film]]<ref name="23rdGuldbagge">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfi.se/en-GB/Swedish-film-database/Item/?type=MOVIE&itemid=15913&iv=Awards|title=Pelle Erobreren (1987)|date=15 March 2014|publisher=Swedish Film Institute}}</ref><br>Nominated- [[César Award|César Award for Best European Film]]
|-
| 1992
|''[[The Best Intentions]]''
|{{Lang|fr|[[Palme d'Or]]|italic=no}}<ref name="cannes-1992.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/12/year/1992.html|title=Festival de Cannes: The Best Intentions|work=festival-cannes.com|access-date=14 August 2009}}</ref><br>Nominated- [[Guldbagge Award for Best Director]]
|-
|1993
|''[[The House of the Spirits (film)|The House of the Spirits]]''
|[[Robert Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>[[Robert Award for Best Screenplay]]
|-
|1996
|''[[Jerusalem (1996 film)|Jerusalem]]''
|[[Lübeck Nordic Film Days]]
|-
|1997
|''[[Smilla's Sense of Snow (film)|Smilla's Sense of Snow]]''
|Nominated- [[Golden Berlin Bear]]<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1997/02_programm_1997/02_Programm_1997.html|title=Berlinale: 1997 Programme|work=berlinale.de|access-date=12 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1998
|''[[Les Misérables (1998 film)|Les Misérables]]''
|Nominated- [[Golden Pyramid Award|Golden Cairo Pyramid Award]]
|-
|2001
|''[[A Song for Martin]]''
|Nominated- [[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Crystal Globe (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)|Crystal Globe]]<br>Nominated- [[Guldbagge Award for Best Director]]<br>Nominated- [[Guldbagge Award for Best Screenplay]]<br>Nominated- [[Festroia International Film Festival|Golden Festroia Dolphin]]<br>Nominated- [[Miami International Film Festival|Miami Grand Jury Prize]]
|-
|2007
|''[[Goodbye Bafana]]''
|[[Berlin International Film Festival|Berlin Peace Film Award]]<br>[[Capri Hollywood International Film Festival|Capri Arts Award]]<br>Nominated- [[Golden Berlin Bear]]
[[Cinema for Peace]] Award for the Most Valuable Director of the Year<ref>{{Cite web|last=Uhr|first=13 Februar 2007 14:05|title=Starrummel bei Berlinale: Richard Gere spielte am Piano auf|url=https://www.mittelbayerische.de/starrummel-bei-berlinale-richard-gere-spielte-am-piano-auf-20000-art9414.html|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Mittelbayerische Zeitung|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|''[[The Passion of Marie]]''
|Nominated- [[Chicago International Film Festival|Chicago Gold Hugo]]
|-
|2014
|''[[Silent Heart]]''
|[[Bodil Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Award for Best Director]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Audience Award]]<br>Nominated- [[Nordic Council Film Prize]]<br>Nominated- [[Golden Shell]]
|-
|2017
|''[[The Chinese Widow]]''
|Nominated- [[Golden Goblet Award for Best Feature Film|Shanghai Golden Goblet Award for Best Feature Film]]
|-
|2018
|''[[A Fortunate Man]]''
|[[Beijing International Film Festival|Beijing Tiantian Award for Best Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Award for Best Danish Film]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Award for Best Director]]<br>Nominated- [[Robert Award for Best Screenplay|Robert Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]<br>Nominated- [[Filmfest Hamburg|Filmfest Hamburg Critics Choice Award]]
|-
|2021
|''The Pact''
|Nominated- [[Beijing International Film Festival|Beijing Tiantian Award for Best Film]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070809013413/http://desires.com/3.2/Performance/Reviews/Docs/august.html 1997 interview with Bille August] about Smilla's Sense of Snow
* {{IMDb name|806|Bille August}}
* {{Sfdb name}}
* {{Danish National Filmography name|1192}}

{{Bille August}}
{{AcademyAwardBestForeignLanguageFilm 1981–2000}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:August, Bille}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bille August| ]]
[[Category:People from Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality]]
[[Category:Danish film directors]]
[[Category:Danish male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Danish cinematographers]]
[[Category:Directors of Palme d'Or winners]]
[[Category:Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog]]