Early life Before filmmaking, Diwan was a junior editor at
Denoël as well as publishing various novels. She has written many books, which led her to become a screenwriter including
How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits, ''Confessions d'un salaud, De l'autre côté de l'été, La fabrication d'un mensonge, Cléo de 5 à 7.'' She has also held senior positions in editorial offices for various fashion and culture magazines such as
Glamour and
Stylist.
Filmmaking career Diwan transitioned to filmmaking co-writing with Arnaud Duprey the thriller film
Paris Under Watch (2012). She also collaboratted with her former husband
Cédric Jimenez in three films:
The Connection (2014),
The Man with the Iron Heart (2017) and
BAC Nord (2020). Her directorial debut feature film ''
(Mais vous êtes fous'') premiered in 2019. In 2021, Diwan directed
Happening (''L'Événement'') based on
Annie Ernaux's 2000
memoir of same name. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the
78th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the
Golden Lion in a "unanimous decision", thus making her the sixth female director to ever win this award. It was theatrically released in France shortly after, where it was met with critical acclaim, winning the
Lumière Award for Best Film, alongside nominations for the
César Award for
Best Film,
Best Director and
Best Adaptation. Diwan also collaborated with
Valérie Donzelli in
Just the Two of Us, and with
Teddy Lussi-Modeste in
The Good Teacher. In 2024, Diwan released her English language debut feature
Emmanuelle, a feminist reboot of the popular softcore erotic
series of the same name. The film was met with negative reviews. Also in 2024, Diwan co-wrote the French box-office hit
Beating Hearts alongside
Gilles Lellouche and Ahmed Hamidi. == Personal life ==