Réalisateur

Réalisateur (fém.: réalisatrice) is a term used in French-language cinema, television and, less commonly, theatre to designate the person responsible for the overall artistic and creative vision of a film or program. The word comes from réaliser, meaning to bring into reality or to shoot, and the title denotes the individual who interprets the script and guides the project from concept to finished work.

The director’s role encompasses developing the artistic concept, shaping the narrative, and determining the tone, pace, and visual style. This involves close collaboration with writers, producers, and heads of department, as well as casting, guiding actors, and making decisions on performance, framing, movement, and the blocking of scenes. The réalisateur also oversees the shooting process, coordinates production logistics with the producer, and ultimately makes creative choices that influence editing, sound design, music, and post-production. In practice, the director maintains the film’s coherence and unity of vision within the constraints of budget and schedule.

In French-speaking contexts, distinctions exist between the director, the producer (producteur or productrice), and the director of photography (directeur de la photographie). A film may have a single réalisateur or multiple directors (co-réalisateurs). Some creators also serve as writer-director (réalisateur-scénariste), integrating screenwriting with direction. The gendered form réalisatrice is widely used in contemporary French to acknowledge female directors.

In credits, the réalisateur is typically listed as the primary creative authority for the work, with other key roles acknowledged separately. The term is the standard French equivalent of “director” in English-language film and television contexts.