Margaret Menegoz, the producer of world-famous auteurs such as Michael Haneke and Wim Wenders, has died at the age of 83. Menegoz was celebrated for her leadership of Les Films du Losange, an acclaimed production and distribution company which she ran for 46 years with an iron fist, guided by her passion for independent filmmaking and new voices. Born in Hungary in 1941, during WW2, Menegoz grew up in Germany and ventured into the film industry after meeting her husband, Robert Menegoz, and traveled the world with him to shoot documentaries.
She joined Les Films du Losange in 1975 and started as an assistant for revered directors Eric Rohmer and Barbet Schroeder who had co-founded the company in 1962. She quickly rose through the ranks and became manager of the company. Under her helm, Les Films du Losange won an Oscar, three Palmes d’Or at Cannes.
The company built a library of about 100 prestige films, including Haneke’s “Amour,” which won Cannes’ Palme d’or, as well as an Oscar and Golden Globe for best foreign-language film; “The White Ribbon,” another film by Haneke produced by Les Films du Losange which won the Palme d’Or and a Golden Globe; Rohmer’s “Le rayon vert,” winner of the Venice Golden Lion; Agnieszka Holland’s Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning “Europa Europa.” She was known for her hands-on leadership as she worked hand in hand with filmmakers, from the script to the theatrical release. Menegoz was interested in all aspects of.