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Denis Ducroz

Known For
Directing

Known Credits
7

Gender
Male

Birthday
April 1, 1949 (77 years old)

Place of Birth
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, France

Denis Ducroz

Biography

Denis Ducroz, born in 1949, is a French Chamonix-based mountain guide, filmmaker, director, and writer.

He has established himself as one of the most active filmmakers in the field of high mountain and expeditions, both as a cameraman and director, collaborating on numerous films dedicated to the mountain world. His audiovisual output has expanded over time to include social, economic, environmental, and cultural themes, while remaining focused on the world's mountains and their populations. Among the most notable is "Les inconnus du Mont-Blanc" (1986), a film that recreates the first ascent of Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard, immersing the viewer in the minds of the mountaineering pioneers. He also directed "Le Refuge des Cosmiques" (1991), a documentary produced as part of the "Montagne" collection for France 3 Grenoble, which traces the history and reconstruction of the Cosmiques refuge at the Col du Midi, on the Mont Blanc massif. He says: "Television allowed me to travel extensively and to decipher something other than the Vallot guide. I read, from the authoritative pens of a mountaineer and a sociologist, that mountain cinema didn't exist because filmmakers knew nothing about the mountains and mountaineers were barely capable of skewering their exploits. Double praise."

In his sixties, Denis Ducroz turned to writing novels, publishing in 2016 N’approchez Pas De L’Île Dawson, a story inspired by an expedition to Patagonia, which earned him the 2017 Henri Queffélec Prize awarded by the Livre & Mer festival in Concarneau. He continued his literary work with Le Pont De Neige (2018) and a biography of the famous mountaineer Valery Babanov (2023). His career demonstrates a deep passion for the mountains, which he explores through adventure, images, and writing.

Known For

Crew

2015Piège Blanc...Stunt Double
2012Messner...Cinematography
2002The Red Summer...Technical Advisor
2002The Castaways Of Mont Blanc...Cinematography
1999The World Is Not Enough...Security Coordinator
1992The Climbers...Cinematography
1988Vertical Nomads...Cinematography
1988Baquet's Comeback...Cinematography
1987Trilogy for One Man...Cinematography
1987The Measure of the Feat...Cinematography
1986The Conquest Of La Meije...Cinematography
1983Patagonie Force 10...Cinematography
1981Under The Eye Of Qomolangma...Cinematography
1980Where Are You Going Basile?...Cinematography
1977Les Carnets De L'Aventure...Cinematography

Directing

2002The Castaways Of Mont Blanc...Director
1988Vertical Nomads...Director
1986The Unfamous of Mont Blanc...Director
1986The Conquest Of La Meije...Director
1983Patagonie Force 10...Director
1981Under The Eye Of Qomolangma...Director
1980Where Are You Going Basile?...Director
1977Les Carnets De L'Aventure...Director

Writing

2002The Castaways Of Mont Blanc...Writer
1986The Unfamous of Mont Blanc...Writer
1986The Conquest Of La Meije...Writer
1981Under The Eye Of Qomolangma...Writer
1980Where Are You Going Basile?...Writer
1977Les Carnets De L'Aventure...Writer

Camera

1993Au Nord De L'Hiver...Director of Photography

Acting

2003Women of K2as Self
1999First On The Ropeas Le guide sourd
1989The Companions Of The Voidas Self
1988La Face de l'Ogreas Paul
1983Patagonie Force 10as Self - Mountain Guide & Filmaker
1981Under The Eye Of Qomolangmaas Self
1977Les Carnets De L'Aventureas Self