The history behind the filmmaker and long-time friend of the house …
Award-winning American filmmaker and former actress Sofia Coppola made her acting debut in her father Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed film The Godfather and her directorial debut in The Virgin Suicides, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
She’s broken boundaries for over twenty years, nominated as Best Director at the Academy Awards for Lost in Translation in 2003; becoming the third woman in history to do so. She’s also famous for building her films around strong female characters, directing Kirsten Dunst again in the austentatious historical drama Marie Antoinette, Emma Watson in satirical drama The Bling Ring, and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla with Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley, among other notable films.
THE CHANEL CONNECTION
She interned at Chanel at age 15 and has remained connected with the maison as a creative collaborator in recent years. She said it’s always been ‘my childhood dream’ to direct a campaign, inspired by family friend and one-time Chanel face Carole Bouquet.
She directed Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, daughter of director JJ, in Chanel’s spring/summer 2025 pre-collection campaign, photographed by Craig McDean. She took inspiration from the house’s 1980s campaigns she remembers growing up, taking behind-the-scenes Polaroids on set.
Villa d’Este is the setting for Chanel’s Cruise Show 2025/26, with Coppola’s film setting the luxurious scene. A veritable film set, this legendary hotel on the shores of Lake Como in Italy is the stunning backdrop for the show. Sporting high-waisted shorts, a stylish swimsuit and dazzling accessories from the collection, Danish model Ida Heiner moves between the magnificent marble staircases of this Renaissance palace, its ochre-toned terrace and rooms overlooking the lake. Through Coppola’s lens, time seems to stand still and we’re transported there … at least in our (day)dreams!
The film will be unveiled on April 30 at 2pm Paris time on chanel.com.
Get carried away with the preview below:
