Patrice Lucien Cochet

Patrice Cochet—yeah, that guy’s basically a legend if you’ve poked around indie film circles. Four-time Sundance alumnus, actual award magnet, and honestly, the dude’s French flair sneaks into everything he touches. He’s got this wild range—one minute he’s making you laugh, next thing you know you’re on the edge of your seat, or just getting punched in the feels. Drama, comedy, mystery, thrillers, family flicks—he’s done it all, and he’s done it more than most. We’re talking over 25 features, 30+ other projects for TV, commercials, music videos, you name it. If you’ve seen any of those Sundance darlings like Better Luck Tomorrow, The End of Love, The Good Life, or Joshy, you’ve seen his style—kinda raw, but super polished at the same time. The critics? They’re obsessed. LA Times calls him “gifted,” The Hollywood Reporter says he’s “technically scorchingly good” (which is just a fancy way of saying his camera work rips), and Roger Ebert went off about how Cochet can make a tiny indie look like a Marvel movie, budget be damned. Oh, and he’s not just behind the camera—he’s out there teaching too. Sundance Directors Lab, Columbia College Hollywood, sharing the love with up-and-coming filmmakers. He’s got an MFA from AFI, because of course he does. His filmography’s packed with names you know—Zooey Deschanel, Bill Paxton, Britt Robertson, Justin Long, Amanda Seyfried, Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Teresa Palmer, and on and on. If you’re into movies that actually have some soul, you’ve definitely stumbled across his work whether you realized it or not.