Lars von Trier
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- April 30, 1956
- Birthplace
- Copenhagen, Denmark
Lars von Trier (born Lars Trier; 30 April 1956) is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches. He is known for his female-centric parables and his exploration of controversial subject matter. Von Trier began making his own films at the age of 11 after receiving a Super-8 camera as a gift, and his first publicly released film was an experimental short called The Orchid Gardener, in 1977. His first feature film came seven years later, The Element of Crime, in 1984. As of 2010, he has directed a further 10 feature films, 5 short films and 4 television productions. He has been married twice and is currently married to Bente Frøge. Von Trier suffers periodically from depression, as well as various fears and phobias, including an intense fear of flying. As he himself once put it, "Basically, I'm afraid of everything in life, except filmmaking".
Filmography
Études TBA
Director
After TBA
Director, Writer
The Missing Films TBA
as Himself
Descendant - curated by Lars von Trier 2026
as Self
Being Bo Widerberg 2025
as Self
Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus 2022
as Self / Director / Devil
Lars von Trier: The Burden From Donald Duck 2020
as Lars von Trier
The Idiots Who Started The Party 2020
as Sig selv
The House That Jack Built 2018
Director, Writer, Idea
Living the Light: Robby Müller 2018
as Self
Bergman: A Year in a Life 2018
as Self
Plankton Salesmen 2017
as Self (archive footage)
- En invitation fra Lars von Trier
En invitation fra Lars von Trier 2015
Actor
Too Many Cooks 2014
as Pie
Arteholic 2014
as Self
Colors 2013
as Fuck Putas Edition
Nymphomaniac: Vol. I 2013
Director, Writer
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II 2013
Director, Writer
Trespassing Bergman 2013
as Self
Side by Side 2012
as Self
A Royal Affair 2012
Executive Producer, Script Supervisor
Melancholia 2011
Director, Screenplay
Dimension 2010
Director, Writer
… But Film Is My Mistress 2010
as Self
Antichrist 2009
Director, Writer
Ernst-Hugo 2008
as Self
The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 2007
as Narrator (voice), Screenplay
To Each His Own Cinema 2007
as The filmmaker (segment "Occupations"), Director
Cinema 16: European Short Films (U.S. Edition) 2007
Director
Filmbyen: The New Mecca of Cinema 2007
as self
The Boss of It All 2006
as Narrator (uncredited), Director, Writer
Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition) 2006
Director
- The Road to Manderlay
The Road to Manderlay 2005
as Self - director
Le court des grands 2005
Director
All About Anna 2005
Executive Producer
- Tilbageblik på Idioterne
Tilbageblik på Idioterne 2005
as Self - director
A Conversation with Lars von Trier 2005
as Interviewee
Idiotic Filters 2005
Actor
Manderlay 2005
Director, Writer, Camera Operator
Looking Back At The Idiots 2005
Actor
Dear Wendy 2005
Screenplay
Dogville Confessions 2004
as Self
Visions of Europe 2004
Producer
Kingdom Hospital 2004
Writer
The South 2004
Producer
Dogville: The Pilot 2003
Director, Writer
The Five Obstructions 2003
as Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations"), Director, Writer, Idea
Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba 2003
Idea
Inside Björk 2003
as Self
Trier, Kidman og Cannes 2003
as Self
Dogville 2003
Director, Camera Operator, Writer
Screaming Men 2003
Thanks
The Purified 2003
as Himself
Heart of the Festival 2002
as Self (archive footage)
- Wag the Dogma
Wag the Dogma 2001
Actor
Kayaking On The Top Of The World 2000
Executive Producer
Italian for Beginners 2000
Associate Producer
Von Trier's 100 Eyes 2000
as Self
The Name of This Film Is Dogme95 2000
as Self
Dancer in the Dark 2000
Director, Camera Operator, Writer, Lyricist
- Playing the Fool
Playing the Fool 2000
as Self
100 Cameras: Capturing Lars von Trier's Vision 2000
as Self
HotMen CoolBoyz 2000
Producer
The Exhibited 2000
Actor
D-Day 2000
Director, Writer
100 Cameras: Capturing Lars von Trier's Vision 2000
Actor
FreeDogme 2000
as himself
The Copyist 1999
as Self
Dogma 95, a Serious Game? 1999
as Self
The Humiliated 1998
Actor
The Kingdom II 1998
as Self (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
The Idiots 1998
as Interviewer (voice) (uncredited), Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director
Constance 1998
Producer
- Ironie und Gottessuche - Das Kino des Lars von Trier
Ironie und Gottessuche - Das Kino des Lars von Trier 1998
as Self
- Lars From 1 - 10
Lars From 1 - 10 1998
Actor
- In Doctor von Trier's Laboratory: Back to the Magic of Cinema
In Doctor von Trier's Laboratory: Back to the Magic of Cinema 1998
as Self
Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars von Trier 1997
Actor
Breaking the Waves 1996
Director, Writer
I Am Curious, Film 1995
as Self
The Kingdom 1994
as Self (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
- The Making of Europa
The Making of Europa 1991
as Self - Director
Europa 1991
as Jew, Director, Screenplay, Continuity
- Portrait of Lars von Trier
Portrait of Lars von Trier 1991
as Himself
Trier's Element 1991
as Himself
Medea 1989
Director, Adaptation
Epidemic 1987
as Lars von Trier / Dr. Mesmer, Director, Screenplay, Camera Operator, Editor
Sauna 1986
Director
- Ennenstadt Europa – The Making of The Element of Crime
Ennenstadt Europa – The Making of The Element of Crime 1984
as Self - Film Director
The Element of Crime 1984
as Schmuck of Ages, Director, Screenplay
Images of Liberation 1982
Writer, Director
Kaptajn Klyde og hans venner vender tilbage 1980
Actor
Nocturne 1980
Writer, Director
Menthe: The Benefactor 1979
as The Driver, Writer, Director, Director of Photography, Editor
The Orchid Gardener 1977
as Victor Morse, Writer, Director
A Flower 1971
Director
- Why Try to Escape from That Which You Know You Can't Escape From? Because You Are a Coward
Why Try to Escape from That Which You Know You Can't Escape From? Because You Are a Coward 1970
Director, Writer
Goodbye, I'm Kurt 1969
as Børge
Clandestine Summer 1969
as Lars Johansen
Good Night, Dear 1968
Actor, Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Editor
The Trip to Squash Land 1967
Director
Credits from TMDB.