Willem Dafoe (b. 1955) is one of the most complete actors in world cinema. Capable of embodying eccentric and dark characters, as much as tender and empathetic, his signature style strikes a balance between provocation and fascination, which makes him the “predictably most unpredictable” American performer. His extensive and remarkably varied filmography serves as a testament to this versatility and genius; from Platoon (1986), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and The English Patient (1996), to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), Manderlay (2005), Antichrist (2009), Nymphomaniac (2013), The Florida Project (2017), and At Eternity's Gate (2019), Dafoe displays a truly chameleonic nature — one that has made him an actor who resonates across generations. His reputation also extends to the theater: Willem Dafoe is a key figure in the New York-based company The Wooster Group and currently serves as the artistic director of the theater department at the Biennale. Following several appearances at LEFFEST, including a tribute in 2019, he will return for the festival’s 20th edition to participate in a screening of Nymphomaniac, where he will engage in a conversation with Stacy Martin as part of a tribute to Lars von Trier. He will also hold a masterclass on November 9th (at 11:00 AM) at the Cinema Medeia Nimas, focusing specifically on the privilege of working with the Danish filmmaker, titled: “Working with Lars von Trier.”
