Teddy Lussi-Modeste (born 25 March 1978) is a French Romani film director, screenwriter and literature teacher. He wrote and directed the films Jimmy Rivière (2011), The Price of Success (2017), and The Good Teacher (2024).

Early life

Lussi-Modeste grew up in La Tronche, Grenoble, in a Sinti, Manush Romani community in France.

Career

Lussi-Modeste studied cinema at the film school La Fémis in Paris. He later became a literature teacher in high schools and colleges, before devoting himself entirely to cinema in the late 2000s.

Lussi-Modeste started his career as a film director in 2004 with the short film Kissing Tigers. In 2011, he released his feature directorial debut, the drama Jimmy Rivière. He later wrote and directed the drama films The Price of Success (2017), and The Good Teacher (2024). Lussi-Modeste also co-wrote the screenplay of Rebecca Zlotowski's 2019 comedy drama film An Easy Girl, and Maïwenn's 2023 historical drama film Jeanne du Barry.

In the 2020s, Lussi-Modeste kept working as a French teacher at a school in Aubervilliers in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, the northeastern suburbs of Paris.

Filmography

As director

YearTitleNotesRef(s)
2004Kissing TigersShort film
2005Courts mais GAY: Tome 10Short film, segment Embrasser les tigres
2007Dans l'oeilShort film
2009I'm ComingShort film
2011Jimmy RivièreAlso screenwriter
2017The Price of Success
2024The Good Teacher

As screenwriter

YearTitleNotesRef(s)
2004PilouShort film; directed by Claudine Natkin
2019An Easy GirlDirected by Rebecca Zlotowski
2023Jeanne du BarryDirected by Maïwenn

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023Jeanne du BarryDoctor La MartinièreDirected by Maïwenn

Awards and nominations

YearAward / FestivalCategoryWorkResultRef(s)
2011Angers Premiers Plans Film FestivalAudience Award - Best French Feature FilmJimmy RivièreWon
Louis Delluc PrizeBest Debut FilmNominated
2017San Sebastián International Film FestivalNew Directors AwardThe Price of SuccessNominated

External links