David Cronenberg (n. 1943) is a Canadian screenwriter and director, acclaimed for blending elements of horror and sci-fi whilst vividly exposing the intersections between technology, the human body and subconscious desire. Graduated from the Toronto University in English Literature in 1967, his fascination with cinema led him to create, between 1966 and 1970, several short and feature-length experimental films. After working in television in the early 1970s, Cronenberg wrote and directed his first commercially released film in 1975, entitled Shivers. Since then, films of his such as Scanners (1981), Crash (1996), A History of Violence (2005) and Cosmopolis (2012) have the gift to disturb, surprise and challenge spectators. Throughout the years, the filmmaker asserted himself as the most controversial Canadian director, frequently inspired by literary works by writers such as William Burroughs, J. G. Ballard and Patrick McGrath. Cronenberg was the President of the LEFFEST’17 jury.
