Pitof

Pitof started his career in 1976 as photographer, assistant director and editor for films and commercials. He then branched out into musical scoring, software design and graphic design for televisions, music videos and commercials. A pioneer of digital imaging in France, Pitof made his debut in visual effect in 1986. Co-founder of Duran Duboi the digital postproduction company leader in France, Pitof worked on commercials, videos and feature films for recognized directors such as Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Lars Von Trier, Wim Wenders, Bertrant Travernier, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Jean-Paul Goude, Alain Chabat , Luc Besson... Pitof then achieved the first French software for digital visual effects used in feature films. In 1994, Pitof won the Technical Grand Prize for visual effects at the Cannes Film Festival for his work in "Dead Tired". In 1995, the Minister of Culture in France honored him with the Medal of Arts and Letters. Pitof went on to direct commercials and short films, most notably " A Tribute to Jessie Owens and Carl Lewis", for which he won the Gold Podium medal at MIFED in 1996 and the Gold Teapot medal at Imagina in 1996. In 1997, Pitof took on the role of second unit director for Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Alien: Resurrection", and consequently won second prize for visual effects at Imagina that year. It was Pitof's third collaboration with Jeunet after working together on the Jeunet-Caro films "Delicatessen" and "City of Lost Children". In the meantime the immense success of Duran Duboi brought the company on the stock market in Paris. In September 2001, "Vidocq", starring Gerard Depardieu and Guillaume Canet, premiered in France. It was Pitof's feature film directorial debut. "Vidocq" was the first feature film ever made in High Definition. The film was an international commercial success and garnered many awards including five honors: The Citizen Kane Award, Best Film, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Music, and Best Makeup from the Catalonian International Film Festival in Sitges, Spain. Pitof makes his Hollywood debut in 2003, directing "Catwoman" for Warner Brothers, starring Halle Berry and Sharon Stone. While developing and shooting projects with major producers in Hollywood, in 2008 Pitof is called in Beijing, China to help the development and the pre-production of an epic effect driven feature film. Back in Hollywood Pitof has been developing various film projects and producing cutting edge commercials and music videos as well as developing Virtual Reality content. Recently he co-produced 3 feature films in Los Angeles and produced a 10' by 10 episodes Mobile-Ready Series for Studio Plus, a French studio pioneer in the mobile content for Vivendi. Decorations Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres 1995 One of the French highest cultural honors Awarded by the Minister of Culture Awards Kid's Choice Award (nominated) USA 2005 "Catwoman" dir. Pitof CNOMA Award Best Make-Up Canada 2005 "Catwoman" dir. Pitof World Stunt Award (nominated) USA 2005 "Catwoman" dir. Pitof Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver Porto 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof International Fantasy Film Award Best Special Effects Porto 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (nominated) Porto 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Best Film Sitges 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Citizen Kane Award to the Director Revelation Sitges 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Best Visuals Effects Sitges 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Best Make Up Effects Sitges 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Best Banda Original Soundtrack Sitges 2001 "Vidocq" dir. Pitof Achievement in Post Production Solutions Productions 1999 "Asterix & Obelix vs Ceasar " dir. Claude Zidi Saturn Award (nominated) USA 1998 « Alien Resurrection » dir. Jean Pierre Jeunet Best Visual Effects 2nd prize in Imagina 1997 « Alien Resurrection » dir. Jean Pierre Jeunet Golden Teapot in Imagina 1996 « Homage to Jesse and Carl » dir. Pitof Golden Prize in MIFED 1996 « Homage to Jesse and Carl » dir. Pitof Master Of Visual Effects in Paris 1996 « Orangina the flipper » dir. Alain Chabat Best Use Of Visual Effects - Spotitalia 1995 « Mulino Bianco » dir. Jean Paul Seaulieu Technical Grand Prize in Cannes Festival 1994 « Dead tired » dir. Michel Blanc