Margaret Meneguz, a film producer for world-famous directors such as Michael Haneke and Wim Wenders, has died at the age of 83.
Meneguz was honored for her leadership of Les Films du Losange, a renowned production and distribution company that she ran for 46 years with an iron fist, guided by her passion for independent filmmaking and new voices.
Born in Hungary in 1941 during World War II, Menegaz grew up in Germany and became involved in the film industry after meeting her husband Robert Menegaz and traveling with him around the world making documentaries. She joined Les Films du Losange in 1975 and began working as an assistant to the esteemed directors Eric Rohmer and Barbet Schroeder, who co-founded the company in 1962. She quickly rose through the ranks and became the company's director.
Under her leadership, Les Films du Losange won an Oscar and three Palmes d'Or at Cannes. The company built a library of nearly 100 prestigious films, including Haneke's “Amour,” which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, as well as an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film; “The White Ribbon,” another Haneke film produced by Les Films du Losange, which won the Palme d'Or and a Golden Globe; Rohmer's “Le rayon vert,” which won the Golden Lion at Venice; and Agnieszka Holland's “Europa Europa,” an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner.
Known for her direct leadership, she worked side by side with filmmakers, from script writing to screening. Meneguze was interested in all aspects of filmmaking, including the business side of things. In the 1980s, she founded a film distribution division, and a few years later an international sales division.
“She often said something like, ‘A film is not made to be shown on a shelf. It is made to be seen, always and everywhere,’” the Les Films du Losange team said in a statement to diverse“She managed to make Les Films du Losange an independent company not only for production, but also for distribution and international sales, with a catalogue that is still alive. We miss her beautiful, deep voice and her unique accent terribly.”
The banner has distributed several award-winning films in France, notably Mia Hansen-Løve's The Future, produced by Charles Gilbert, which won the Silver Bear for Best Director; as well as von Trier's celebrated films such as the Palme d'Or winner Dancer in the Dark and Cannes' Jury Prize winner Breaking the Waves.
During her career, Meneguz tirelessly led the film promotion organization Unifrance from 2003 to 2009 and spearheaded efforts to increase international sales of French films.
Her death was mourned by many prominent figures across Europe, including Daniela Elstner, the current managing director of Unifrance who began her film career at Les Films du Losange. Elstner issued a statement praising Meneguz's intense commitment.
“Margaret did not work internationally, she embodied it. Her productions will speak for her, for her way of thinking and for her love of the world,” said Elstner. “She was an example for many young women. I was one of them; Margaret taught me everything about this world of cinema that knows no borders and invites us to think outside the box… Thank you Margaret, we will miss you very much.”
Although she left Les Films du Losange and sold it to producer Gilbert and financier Alexis Dantic, Meneguz left an indelible mark on the company's auteur-driven DNA.
