Brigitte Sy (born 26 January 1956) is a French actress and filmmaker. Her directorial film debut, Les Mains libres, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim in France.

Life and career

She is the mother of the actors Louis Garrel and Esther Garrel whom she had with the director Philippe Garrel. In an Arte short film collection about AIDS awareness, she revealed that she has been HIV-positive since 1990, contracted from a partner who previously had a drug addiction. She also addresses the issue in Les mains libres and L'endroit idéal where the protagonist, Barbara (played by Ronit Elkabetz), is HIV-positive. Along with 99 other French women writers, performers and academics, she signed an open letter that argued the #MeToo movement had gone too far, turning into a "witch hunt", and denounced it as a form of puritanism, resulting in a backlash.

She is of Sephardic Jewish descent.

Filmography

As actress

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
1979Memoirs of a French WhoreDaniel Duval
1983Télévision de chambreYoung girlArthur JofféTV series (1 episode)
1984Liberté, la nuitMichelinePhilippe Garrel
1989Les baisers de secoursJeannePhilippe Garrel
1991J'entends plus la guitareAlinePhilippe Garrel
Meeting VenusFrench Customs OfficerIstván Szabó
Cas de divorceAgnès DelsolGérard EspinasseTV series (1 episode)
1993Le signalThe womanMendy YounèsShort
1997Genealogies of a CrimeJeanneRaúl Ruiz
Ma 6-T va crack-erThe directorJean-François Richet
1998Cantique de la racailleVéroniqueVincent Ravalec
2000Combats de femmeMarlèneYves ThomasTV series (1 episode)
2005Regular LoversFrançois's motherPhilippe Garrel
Des putes dans les arbresEmmanuelle HuchetShort
2006DélugeHer motherAntoine BarraudShort
2008Fear(s) of the DarkEric's motherCharles Burns
L'été indienAliceAlain Raoust
VersaillesMadame HerchelPierre Schoeller
Choisir d'aimerIsabelleRachid HamiShort
Rien dans les pochesAgathe ManikowskiMarion VernouxTV movie
Ben et ThomasMadame BouillonJon CarnoyTV series (2 episodes)
2009NiceFannyMaud AlpiShort
2010Les Mains libresThe blondBrigitte Sy
2011Declaration of WarClaudia BenaïmValérie Donzelli
Une vie meilleureThe indebtedness volunteerCédric Kahn
Dernière séanceThe taxi driverLaurent Achard
VourdalakFranceFrédérique MoreauShort
Un mauvais pèreMadame LegendreTigrane AvedikianShort
2012Chacun sa nuitClaudineMarina DiabyShort
2013NutsMadame HerschelYann Coridian
A Place on EarthLoraine MorinFabienne Godet
VandalChristineHélier Cisterne
De l'usage du sex-toy en temps de criseThe doctorÉric Pittard
SurveillanceMicheleSébastien GrallTV movie
2014Wild LifeGenevièveCédric Kahn
2015L'AstragaleRitaBrigitte Sy
La promenade du diableBéatrice de Staël & Brigitte SyShort
Lui au printemps, elle en hiverHélèneCatherine KleinTV movie
2017All That Divides UsBen's motherThierry Klifa
2017–presentBlack SpotSabine HennequinJulien Despaux & Thierry PoiraudTV series (16 episodes)
2018The Great PretenderThérèse's momNathan Silver
2019InvisiblesBéatriceLouis-Julien Petit
Online BillieBrigitteLou Assous
2023Little Girl BlueMonique Lange (voice)Mona Achache

As filmmaker

YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorScreenwriter
2008L'Endroit idéalYesYesFeaturette
2009Fruits de merYesYesTV short documentary
2010Les Mains libresYesYes
2015L'AstragaleYesYes
2015La Promenade du diableYesYesFeaturette
2016Les OgresYes
2022Le Bonheur est pour demainYesYesReleased 2024

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations
YearTitle of workAwardCategoryResult
2009L'Endroit idéalClermont-Ferrand International Short Film FestivalBest Short FilmNominated
International Istanbul Film FestivalBest Short FilmNominated
Festival do RioBest Short FilmNominated
Créteil International Women's Film FestivalBest Short FilmWon
Lutin Short Film AwardBest Fictional FilmNominated
2016L'AstragaleFilmfest MünchenBest International FilmNominated
Odesa International Film FestivalInternational CompetitionNominated
Film by the Sea International Film FestivalFilm and Literature AwardNominated
2017Les OgresLumière AwardsBest ScreenplayNominated

External links