# Ladj Ly

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ladj_Ly
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ladj_Ly.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladj_Ly
> Source revision: 1356775693
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

French filmmaker (born 1980)

You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (August 2025) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing French Wikipedia article at [[:fr:Ladj Ly]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|fr|Ladj Ly}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

Ladj Ly Ly in 2019 Born (1980-03-19) 19 March 1980 (age 46) Occupation Film director Screenwriter Notable work Les Misérables

**Ladj Ly** (French pronunciation: [\[ladʒ li\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French); born 19 March 1980 in Paris) is a French film director and screenwriter. Most known for his 2019's *[Les Misérables](/source/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(2019_film))*, which won the [Jury Prize](/source/Jury_Prize_(Cannes_Film_Festival)) at the [Cannes Film Festival](/source/2019_Cannes_Film_Festival) an was nominated for the [Academy Award for Best Foreign Film](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Foreign_Film).[1]

## Biography

Ly's parents are from [Mali](/source/Mali) and he grew up in [Montfermeil](/source/Montfermeil), a district of Bosquets. He started making films with his friends [Kim Chapiron](/source/Kim_Chapiron), [Romain Gavras](/source/Romain_Gavras), and [JR](/source/JR_(artist)), in the collective Kourtrajmé.[2]

He directed his first films, notably for [Oxmo Puccino](/source/Oxmo_Puccino), and his first documentaries, *[365 jours à Clichy-Montfermeil](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=365_jours_%C3%A0_Clichy-Montfermeil&action=edit&redlink=1) [[fr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/365_jours_%C3%A0_Clichy-Montfermeil)]* (*365 days in Clichy-Montfermeil*), filmed after the [2005 French riots](/source/2005_French_riots); *Go Fast Connexion*; and *365 jours au Mali* (*365 days in Mali*).

In 2011, Ly was given a three-year prison sentence for [kidnapping](/source/Kidnapping) and [false imprisonment](/source/False_imprisonment).[3][4] In 2012, the sentence was reduced on appeal to two years imprisonment, and one year suspended sentence.[5]

*Les Misérables* (2017) is the first non-documentary film he directed.[6] The short film received many awards, notably at the [Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival](/source/Clermont-Ferrand_International_Short_Film_Festival) and a nomination for the [César Award for Best Short Film](/source/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Short_Film) in 2018. In the same year, he was nominated for the [César Award for Best Documentary Film](/source/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Documentary_Film) for *[À voix haute : La Force de la parole](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%C3%80_voix_haute_:_La_Force_de_la_parole&action=edit&redlink=1) [[fr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%80_voix_haute_:_La_Force_de_la_parole)]* with [Stéphane de Freitas](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St%C3%A9phane_de_Freitas&action=edit&redlink=1) [[fr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_de_Freitas)].[7][8][9]

In 2018 in Montfermeil, Ly created a free [film school](/source/Film_school), called "L'école Kourtrajmé".[10]

His 2019's *[Les Misérables](/source/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(2019_film))* is an expansion of his short film of same name, the film had its world premiere at the main competition of the [2019 Cannes Film Festival](/source/2019_Cannes_Film_Festival), where it won the [Jury Prize](/source/Jury_Prize_(Cannes_Film_Festival)). Alongside [Alexis Manenti](/source/Alexis_Manenti) and Giordano Gederlini, he won the [Lumière Award for Best Screenplay](/source/Lumi%C3%A8re_Award_for_Best_Screenplay),[11] and was nominated for the [César Award for Best Original Screenplay](/source/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Original_Screenplay)[12] and the [European Film Award for Best Screenwriter](/source/European_Film_Award_for_Best_Screenwriter).[13] The film also won the [César Award for Best Film](/source/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Film).

His second feature film, *[Les Indésirables](/source/Les_Ind%C3%A9sirables)*, premiered at the [2023 Toronto International Film Festival](/source/2023_Toronto_International_Film_Festival) on September 8, 2023.[14]

in 2025, he will direct a biopic about [Thomas Alexandre Dumas](/source/Thomas_Alexandre_Dumas) titled *Dumas - Black Devil*.[15][16]

## Filmography

### Feature films

Year English Title Original Title Notes 2019 Les Misérables 2023 Les Indésirables Bâtiment 5 2026 Dumas: Black Devil Dumas - Diable Noir Post-production

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Les Miserables review"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/28/movies/les-miserables-review.html). The New York Times. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sterlé_2019_2-0)** Sterlé, Carole (19 April 2019). ["Montfermeil : Ladj Ly dans la cour des grands, à Cannes !"](https://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/montfermeil-ladj-ly-dans-la-cour-des-grands-a-cannes-19-04-2019-8056881.php). *leparisien.fr* (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AFP_2011_3-0)** ["Amad Ly, ex 'porte-parole' des quartiers, condamné à 5 ans de prison"](https://paris.maville.com/actu/actudet_-Amad-Ly-ex-porte-parole-des-quartiers-condamne-a-5-ans-de-prison_-1713018_actu.Htm) (in French). [Agence France-Presse](/source/Agence_France-Presse). 2 March 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2020 – via paris.maville.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Korda_2019_4-0)** Korda, Robin (19 December 2019). ["Ladj Ly, réalisateur des "Misérables", condamné à la prison : trois questions sur la polémique"](https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/ladj-ly-realisateur-des-miserables-condamne-a-la-prison-trois-questions-sur-la-polemique-19-12-2019-8221125.php). *leparisien.fr* (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mathiot_Leboucq_2019_5-0)** Mathiot, Cédric; Leboucq, Fabien (18 December 2019). ["Ladj Ly a-t-il fait de la prison pour tentative de meurtre, comme l'écrivent "Causeur" et "Valeurs actuelles" ?"](https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2019/12/18/ladj-ly-a-t-il-fait-de-la-prison-pour-tentative-de-meurtre-comme-l-ecrivent-causeur-et-valeurs-actue_1769863). *Libération.fr* (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Interview with Ladj Ly"](https://www.indiewire.com/2020/01/les-miserables-ladj-ly-interview-1202201131/). Indiewire. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kaganski_2017_7-0)** Kaganski, Serge (7 April 2017). ["À voix haute. La force de la parole"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201001163922/https://www.lesinrocks.com/cinema/films-a-l-affiche/voix-haute-la-force-de-la-parole/). *Les Inrockuptibles* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.lesinrocks.com/cinema/films-a-l-affiche/voix-haute-la-force-de-la-parole/) on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sterlé_2017_8-0)** Sterlé, Carole (17 February 2017). ["Montfermeil : « *Les Misérables* de Ladj Ly, primé à Clermont-Ferrand"](http://www.leparisien.fr/montfermeil-93370/montfermeil-les-miserables-de-ladj-ly-prime-a-clermont-ferrand-13-02-2017-6678507.php). *Le Parisien* (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-francetvinfo.fr_2018_9-0)** ["Ladj Ly porte la voix des banlieues aux César"](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/cinema/ladj-ly-porte-la-voix-des-banlieues-aux-cesar_3385757.html). *francetvinfo.fr* (in French). 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-film_school_10-0)** Sterlé, Carole (25 September 2018). ["Clichy - Montfermeil : le cinéaste Ladj Ly forme la relève"](http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/clichy-montfermeil-le-cineaste-ladj-ly-forme-la-releve-25-09-2018-7902210.php). *Le Parisien* (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lumieres_11-0)** Scott Roxborough, ["France’s Lumiere Awards: ‘Les Misérables’ Wins Best Film, Roman Polanski Tapped as Best Director"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-lumieres-award-winners-les-miserables-wins-frances-top-prize-1272628/best-director-166/). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*, 27 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cesar_12-0)** Melanie Goodfellow, ["César awards: ‘Les Miserables’ wins best film, Polanski takes best director"](https://www.screendaily.com/news/cesar-awards-les-miserables-wins-best-film-polanski-takes-best-director/5147739.article). *[Screen Daily](/source/Screen_Daily)*, 28 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Nancy Tartaglione, ["European Film Awards Nominations: Polanski’s ‘An Officer And A Spy’, Almodovar’s ‘Pain And Glory’, Bellocchio’s ‘Traitor’ Lead"](https://deadline.com/2019/11/european-film-awards-2019-nominations-roman-polanski-pedro-almodovar-full-list-1202782005/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*, 9 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Goodfellow, Melanie (5 July 2023). ["Ladj Ly's 'Les Indésirables' To World Premiere At Toronto; Festival Says Paris Outer-City Suburb Drama Is "Timely Tale Of Revolution""](https://deadline.com/2023/07/ladj-lys-les-indesirables-world-premiere-toronto-1235430167/). *Deadline*. Retrieved 9 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Keslassy, Elsa (5 May 2025). ["Ladj Ly's 'Dumas: Black Devil' Sets All-Star French Cast: Omar Sy, Vincent Cassel, François Civil, Theo Christine to Headline Epic Adventure Film (EXCLUSIVE)"](https://variety.com/2025/film/global/ladj-ly-dumas-black-devil-omar-sy-vincent-cassel-chapter-2-1236386695/). *Variety*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Dumas - Black Devil: the epic story of France's first black general"](https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-do-in-paris/cinema-series/articles/320832-dumas-black-devil-the-fate-of-the-general-who-inspired-alexandre-dumas). *www.sortiraparis.com*.

## External links

- [Ladj Ly](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1868177/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Ladj Ly](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=102401.html?nopub=1) at [AlloCiné](/source/AlloCin%C3%A9) (in French)

v t e Lumière Award for Best Screenplay Josiane Balasko (1996) Cédric Klapisch, Jean-Pierre Bacri and Agnès Jaoui (1997) Manuel Poirier and Jean-François Goyet (1998) Francis Veber (1999) Danièle Thompson and Christopher Thompson (2000) Jean-Pierre Bacri and Agnès Jaoui (2001) Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant (2002) Cédric Klapisch (2003) Julie Bertuccelli and Bernard Renucci (2004) Abdellatif Kechiche (2005) Michael Haneke (2006) Rachid Bouchareb and Olivier Lorelle (2007) Alfred Lot (2008) Samuel Benchetrit (2009) Mia Hansen-Løve (2010) Robert Harris and Roman Polanski (2011) Jean-Louis Milesi and Robert Guédiguian (2012) Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain (2013) David Ives and Roman Polanski (2014) Philippe de Chauveron and Guy Laurent (2015) Philippe Faucon (2016) Céline Sciamma (2017) Robin Campillo and Philippe Mangeot (2018) Pierre Salvadori, Benoît Graffin and Benjamin Charbit (2019) Ladj Ly, Giordano Gederlini and Alexis Manenti (2020) Stéphane Demoustier (2021) Xavier Giannoli (2022) Dominik Moll and Gilles Marchand (2023) Justine Triet and Arthur Harari (2024) Jacques Audiard (2025) Stéphane Demoustier (2026)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Poland Catalonia Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ladj Ly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladj_Ly) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladj_Ly?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.