Stephane Gauger
Encyclopedia
Stephane Gauger is a Vietnamese-American film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer.
to an American civilian contractor and his Vietnamese wife, Gauger was raised in Orange County
, California and graduated from California State University, Fullerton
in theatre arts and French literature.
He met cinematographer Matthew Libatique
at CSUF and apprenticed under him as a camera loader and lighting technician. While working on thesis films at Loyola Marymount University, he met filmmaker brothers Tony Bui
and Timothy Bui, and worked as a lighting technician on their feature films Three Seasons
and Green Dragon
.
Mr. Gauger directed the short film Seabirds (1998) before his first feature Owl and the Sparrow
(2007), which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won over fifteen awards at international film festivals and was released theatrically in the U.S. in January 2009.
Partial filmography as writer
Owl and the Sparrow (2007)
Saigon Electric (2010)
Powder Blue (2009) story
and the John Cassavetes Award at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards
. He is the recipient of the emerging director award at the 2007 Starz Denver Film Festival.
Biography
Born in Saigon, South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
to an American civilian contractor and his Vietnamese wife, Gauger was raised in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California and graduated from California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
in theatre arts and French literature.
He met cinematographer Matthew Libatique
Matthew Libatique
Matthew Libatique is an American cinematographer best known for his work with director Darren Aronofsky on such films as π, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain and Black Swan.-Background:...
at CSUF and apprenticed under him as a camera loader and lighting technician. While working on thesis films at Loyola Marymount University, he met filmmaker brothers Tony Bui
Tony Bui
Tony Bui is a Vietnamese independent film director in the U.S., most famous for his 1999 film Three Seasons, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and became the only film ever to win both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize there...
and Timothy Bui, and worked as a lighting technician on their feature films Three Seasons
Three Seasons
Three Seasons is an American Vietnamese language movie filmed in Vietnam about the past, present, and future of Ho Chi Minh City in the early days of New Vietnam. It is a poetic film that tries to paint a picture of the urban culture undergoing westernization. The movie takes place in Ho Chi...
and Green Dragon
Green Dragon
Green Dragon is a tincture made by leaching the buds, leaves, or stems of the cannabis plant in a high-proof alcohol or glycerin. The THC dissolves into the alcohol resulting in a dark green or brown liquid. The liquid is very potent and is usually dropped under one's tongue or it can be mixed with...
.
Mr. Gauger directed the short film Seabirds (1998) before his first feature Owl and the Sparrow
Owl and the Sparrow
Owl and the Sparrow is a 2007 film by Stephane Gauger that follows the fictional story of three Vietnamese individuals over a period of five days as they meet in Saigon.-Release:The movie premiered in January 2007 at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, before playing in over thirty...
(2007), which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won over fifteen awards at international film festivals and was released theatrically in the U.S. in January 2009.
Partial filmography as director
- Owl and the SparrowOwl and the SparrowOwl and the Sparrow is a 2007 film by Stephane Gauger that follows the fictional story of three Vietnamese individuals over a period of five days as they meet in Saigon.-Release:The movie premiered in January 2007 at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, before playing in over thirty...
(2007) - Saigon ElectricSaigon electricSaigon Electric also known as Saigon Yo! is a 2010 Vietnamese hip hop film directed by Stephane Gauger. It will be released on December 17, 2010 in big cities and provinces in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang and Can Tho.-Director's notes:...
(2010)
Partial filmography as writer
Owl and the Sparrow (2007)
Saigon Electric (2010)
Powder Blue (2009) story
Awards
Stephane Gauger is a nominee of the Breakthrough Director Award at the 2007 Gotham AwardsGotham Awards
The Gotham Awards is an annual ceremony of awards presented to the makers of independent films which takes place in New York City...
and the John Cassavetes Award at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
. He is the recipient of the emerging director award at the 2007 Starz Denver Film Festival.