Gatlif was born in Algeria to a Romani mother, but moved to France as a child. In several of his films, he portrayed Romani identity and exclusion.
I have waged a battle against my destiny, against myself, and that is no small thing, he told AFP in 2021.
In 2004, he received the award for best director at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Exils".
Tony Gatlif "leaves behind about twenty warm-hearted films in which music is allowed to play freely," Gilles Jacob, former president of the Cannes Film Festival, told France 24.
