Son of winegrowers, Simon Panay ventured at the age of eighteen into independent cinema and was named Young Talent of the Year 2014 by ARP (the French Guild of Authors, Directors, and Producers). He began working in West Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso, where he gradually developed his cinematic voice through documentary filmmaking. In 2016, he directed Nobody Dies Here, a documentary exploring the world of artisanal gold mining. The film received widespread international acclaim, screened in 71 countries, and awarded 134 prizes. As a recipient of the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation Documentary Grant and the CNC’s Auteur Support Program, he spent five years creating his first feature-length documentary, If You Are a Man, shot in full immersion within a gold mine in Burkina Faso. Released in French theaters in 2023, the film was met with critical acclaim for its emotional depth and striking realism. His first fiction short film, The Boy with White Skin, which continues his immersive work in gold mines, has been awarded at numerous festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Flickerfest, and Rhode Island. It was also shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards® and for the César Awards. He is now developing two feature-length fiction films.
