Simon Catillon is
a versatile French actor, director & screenwriter based in New York.
An experimental approach
to performance & cinema
Simon Catillon is a French actor and filmmaker whose creative approach is defined by constant reinvention—of self, narrative, and cinematic language.
After a successful career in Parisian theater, he moved to New York to engage himself in its vibrant artistic scene, quickly earning recognition both on stage and screen.
His off-Broadway debut in Small Acts of Daring Invention revealed his ability to blend emotional depth with physical acting—an enduring hallmark of his craft.
As a filmmaker, Simon challenges convention and plays with genres. His films are immersive, poetic journeys that blur the lines between reality and dream. He merges various art forms to unravel the complexities of the human psyche. Though often grounded in everyday life, his stories capture moments of fracture, emotional reckoning, and personal transformation.
Simon portrays his characters in their most vulnerable, unguarded moments, exploring themes of self-discovery, grief, empathy, and resilience with a sincerity that invites audiences to reflect on their own experiences.
His short films Lucien and Lullaby—which he wrote, directed, and starred in—have received international acclaim and multiple awards, including Best Actor at the New York International Film Awards (August 2024) and the RED (Reims Excellence Director) Movie Awards (Autumn 2024), as well as Best Director at the Best Actor & Director Awards – New York (2024).
Latest news and upcoming projects
His work as a director
Simon creates experimental fictions where inner landscapes shape the narrative. He employs a symbolic aesthetic, where the use of color palettes and sound design takes center stage.
His storytelling is often non-linear, interspersed with contemplative pauses and metaphorical imagery, evoking a stream of consciousness. Unspoken feelings, struggles, and longings unfold in a vivid, visual language.
Navigating between inner and outer realities, their past, present, and future selves, Simon’s characters are always in motion—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Highly sensitive, they experience life with a profound desire to connect and deepen their understanding of the world—while remaining true to themselves.
Simon’s body of work includes award-winning short films:
Lullaby – A sensory dive into memory, transmission, and grief, blending genres with an experimental approach.
Lucien – A silent, poetic tribute to mime, depicting a character’s search for hope and meaning.
Tri Sestry – A playful and modern adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, viewed through the lens of lively, slightly eccentric young women.
His work has earned worldwide recognition and critical acclaim.
Discover Simon's full list of nominations and awards at film festivals.
Merging diverse artistic traditions, Simon presents a world full of possibilities, where the human condition is shown in all its beauty and complexity.
From stage to screen
Trained at Paris' renowned Cours Florent, Simon honed his craft across a wide range of genres, from classical to contemporary and experimental theater. Known for his ability to undergo radical transformations, he completely reinvents himself for each role, often unrecognizable from one character to the next. His use of mime and puppetry enables him to convey unspoken emotions with a depth that only physical storytelling can offer.
In 2017, he co-wrote and directed the play Unusual Suspects (Enquête d’Amour), a darkly comic thriller praised for its inventive fusion of genres. Simon’s dual role in the production made a lasting impression, underscoring his exceptional versatility.
Driven by a desire to broaden his artistic horizons, Simon relocated to the United States, where he trained at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and completed NYU’s Sight and Sound program. His expertise in stunts, stage combat, fencing, and fitness racing adds another layer of physicality and energy to his performances.
