Suzanne Schiffman (née Klochendler; 27 September 1929 – 6 June 2001) was a screenwriter and director for numerous motion pictures. She often worked with François Truffaut. The 'script girl' Joelle, played by Nathalie Baye in Truffaut's Day for Night was based on Schiffman. It accurately portrayed the close collaboration she had with Truffaut and other directors.
Her Jewish mother was detained by the Gestapo during the war, but Klochendler and her sibling were hidden by an order of nuns. Schiffman studied art history at the Sorbonne after the war. During her career she worked closely with Jean-Luc Godard and Jacques Rivette in addition to Truffaut, latterly on the scripts of his films. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film Day for Night and won a César Award for writing The Last Metro with Truffaut.
Suzanne Schiffman died of cancer in 2001, a year after her husband's death. She is the mother of two sons, one of whom is cinematographer, Guillaume Schiffman.
To oneiro tou Ikarou (2005) (writer)- directed by Costa Natsis
Bolondok éneke (2003) (writer)- directed by Csaba Bereczky
Tangos volés (2002) (screenplay)- directed by Eduardo de Gregorio
Innocent (1999) (technical advisor)- directed by Costa Natsis
Corps perdus (1990) (writer)- directed by Eduardo de Gregorio
Femme de papier (1989) (TV) (writer, director)- directed by Suzanne Schiffman
Le moine et la sorcière (1987) (scenario, director)- directed by Suzanne Schiffman
Hurlevent (1985) (scenario, first assistant director)- directed by Jacques Rivette
Flügel und Fesseln (1985) (additional writer)- directed by Helma Sanders-Brahms
Rouge-gorge (1985) (scenario)- directed by Pierre Zucca
L'amour par terre (1984) (scenario, first assistant director)- directed by Jacques Rivette
The Man Who Loved Women (1983) (first story)- directed by Blake Edwards
Vivement dimanche! (1983) (writer, assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
Merry-Go-Round (1981) (scenario)- directed by Jacques Rivette
Le Pont du Nord (1981) (scenario, first assistant director)- directed by Jacques Rivette
The Woman Next Door (1981) (original scenario, assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
The Last Metro (1980) (scenario, assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
L'amour en fuite (1979) (scenario, first assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
La chambre verte (1978) (assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
L'homme qui aimait les femmes (1977) (writer, first assistant director, actress)- directed by François Truffaut
L'argent de poche (1976) (original scenario, first assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
The Story of Adèle H. (1975) (writer, assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
Out 1: Spectre (1974) (writer)- directed by Jacques Rivette
Pleure pas la bouche pleine (1973) (writer, first assistant director)- directed by Pascal Thomas
La nuit américaine (1973) (writer, assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
La société du spectacle (1973) (documentalist)- directed by Guy Debord
Such a Gorgeous Kid Like Me (1972) (assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
Two English Girls (1971) (assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
Out 1 (1971) (scenario)- directed by Jacques Rivette and Suzanne Schiffman
Le bateau sur l'herbe (1971) (writer)- directed by Gérard Brach
Domicile conjugal (1970) (first assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
L'enfant sauvage (1970) (assistant director)- directed by François Truffaut
Mississippi Mermaid (1969) (script supervisor)- directed by François Truffaut
Stolen Kisses (1968) (script girl)- directed by François Truffaut
Les Gauloises bleues (1968) (script supervisor)- directed by Michel Cournot
Fahrenheit 451 (1966) (assistant to director)- directed by François Truffaut
A Married Woman (1964) (script supervisor)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Bande à part (1964) (script supervisor)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
La peau douce (1964) (script girl)- François Truffaut
Contempt (1963) (script girl)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Le petit soldat (1963) (script girl)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Vivre sa vie (1962) (script girl)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Jules et Jim (1962) (script supervisor)- directed by François Truffaut
Une femme est une femme (1961) (script girl)- directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Lola (1961) (script girl)- directed by Jacques Demy
Tirez sur le pianiste (1960) (script girl)- directed by François Truffaut
Paris nous appartient (1960) (dialogue coach)- directed by Jacques Rivette
