The filmmaker died after suffering a medical problem while he was working in Arles, in the south of France, on a historical film project
Culture minister Catherine Pégard paid tribute to him, saying in a tweet that he had "a taste for side roads, for borders that fade away, for lives we pay too little attention to."
Tony Gatlif made 25 films, including "Gadjo Dilo" starring Romain Duris (1997) and "Exils" (2004, best director award at Cannes).
The filmmaker was fond of social stories and Gypsy culture. His films are notably infused with flamenco and Gypsy music.
Tony Gatlif was born as Michel Dahamani on 10 September 1948, to a Kabyle father and a Gypsy mother.
