auteur

[oh-tur, oh-tœr]

noun

plural

auteurs 

1. a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp.

auteur

/ ɔːˈtɜː /

noun

1. a director whose creative influence on a film is so great as to be considered its author

Other Word Forms

• auteurism noun
• auteurist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of auteur¹

1960–65; < French: literally, author, originator < Latin auctor. See author

Word History and Origins

Origin of auteur¹

French: author

Example Sentences

That has long supported its dense network of picture houses -- around 80 today -- where film lovers can catch classics and auteur productions in sometimes cramped conditions and with spartan decoration.

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In its closing chapter, Godard’s signature sunglasses catch a reflection of his own iconic film — an amateur is now the auteur.

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In the 60 years since the arrival of the auteur theory on the shores of America, all that has changed, and “Hitchcock/Truffaut” was at the crest of the wave.

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"AI is not going to make a film," the US indie auteur tells AFP.

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You couldn’t fit all these legends into the movie if you treated each one like a genius auteur.

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