Philippe Garrel (French: [gaʁɛl]; born 6 April 1948; Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor, and producer, associated with the French New Wave movement. Garrel and actress Brigitte Sy are the parents of actors Louis Garrel and Esther Garrel.
Philippe Garrel was born in Boulogne-Billancourt in 1948, the son of actor Maurice Garrel and his wife. His brother, Thierry Garrel, is a producer. The younger Garrel became interested in film and started his career early, influenced by the new work of Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. At the age of 16, Garrel wrote and directed his first film, Les Enfants désaccordés, in 1964.
His films have won him awards at Cannes Film Festival , Venice Film Festival, and Berlin Film Festival. His works often deal with the theme of the disruptive youth of the 1960s, of which he was a part of. He has directed students of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art where he teaches acting classes. He also staged, in his films several of his friends and family members.