Tony Gatlif, the acclaimed filmmaker who dedicated much of his career to portraying Roma culture on screen, has died, according to Portuguese newspaper Público. The outlet reported his death on Friday, September 4, 2026, but did not provide further details on the circumstances or his age.
Público described Gatlif as a chronicler of the Roma soul, a characterization that reflects his decades-long focus on a community rarely given central stage in European cinema. Born in Algeria in 1948, Gatlif was of Roma and Algerian descent, an identity that informed his artistic vision. He rose to international prominence in the 1990s with films such as Latcho Drom (1993), a musical road movie tracing Roma music across India, Egypt, Turkey, and Europe, and Gadjo Dilo (1997), which won the Best Director prize at the Venice Film Festival.
His work often blended fiction and documentary, using music and dance as narrative engines to explore themes of exile, persecution, and resilience. Gatlif’s later features, including Transylvania (2006) and Korkoro (2009), continued his exploration of Roma identity, with the latter addressing the Porajmos—the Roma genocide during World War II. He also directed Gerry (2011), a drama about a young Roma boxer, and remained active into the 2020s.
Beyond cinema, Gatlif was recognized with a César Award for Best Music for The Crazy Stranger (1998), underscoring his dual talent as a director and composer. His death marks the loss of a singular voice in European film, one that consistently amplified stories of marginalization with both fury and lyricism.
What to watch next: Expect tributes from film festivals and cultural institutions in the coming days, likely highlighting his filmography as a lasting testament to Roma heritage.
