Agnès Varda

Agnès Varda's first feature film was *La Pointe Courte* (1955), which she made before the official start of the French New Wave. The film was shot on a tiny budget in a French fishing village and is often cited as the movement's precursor. It combined a fictional narrative with documentary-style realism.

Yes, Agnès Varda is widely recognized as a pioneer of the French New Wave, though she originally started as a photographer. Her 1962 film *Cléo from 5 to 7* is one of the most celebrated works of the movement. She was affectionately known as the "Grandmother of the French New Wave."

Agnès Varda's most famous films include *Cléo from 5 to 7* (1962), *Vagabond* (1985), and her acclaimed digital documentary *The Gleaners and I* (2000). *Vagabond* won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, while her later documentaries showcased her innovative, personal approach to non-fiction filmmaking. She remained active and influential until her death in 2019.

Yes, Agnès Varda received an Honorary Academy Award in 2017 for her lifetime achievements in cinema. Additionally, her 2017 collaborative documentary *Faces Places* was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. She remains the only female director to have received an honorary Oscar.