A Life in Pictures: Anthony Minghella

14 February 08

Writer, director and producer Anthony Minghella visited the Academy on 2 December 2006 to talk about his life and work with Duncan Kenworthy.

Supported by The Farm Group.

The Academy was deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of filmmaker Anthony Minghella on 18 March 2008. Visiting Academy Headquarters for a special A Life in Pictures event in December 2006, the Director spoke passionately about his life and work with former Academy chairman Duncan Kenworthy.

Born in 1954 to Italian parents on the Isle of Wight he recalled the sense of exclusion that has always stayed with him:

“It felt different to me, as if we were different, as if we were excluded … I always think that I belong in the tradesman’s entrance and not in the front door of almost every establishment”

Minghella went on to discuss his work and career including dealing with immediate success and working out where his talents lie:

“One of the things that is most notably different in America is that if you are embraced you are almost completely embraced, without reservation, immediately … I tried to be a director and discovered that I am not really a director, but what I am is a writer who is able to direct the films that he writes.”

Please note: This webcast is the full length version of the Anthony Minghella: A Life in Pictures event (Running time: 49 minutes)

A Life in Pictures

The event was part of the Academy's A Life in Pictures strand of events, celebrating the art of film, exploring a major and distinctive contribution to the artistic development of the film form. This very special strand enables an audience to hear first-hand from a creative force in the industry.

Previous A Life in Pictures focuses have been Paul Greengrass, Cate Blanchett , Amitabh Bachchan , Alfonso Cuarón , Tilda Swinton and The Coen Brothers .