Trending Now - Nicolas Winding Refn Emotional at Cannes, Shares Near-death Tale

WHO:

Deadline - Nicolas Winding Refn, Danish auteur and filmmaker

Variety - Nicolas Winding Refn

WHAT:

Deadline - Refn stated, "Dying is very interesting," during the press conference for "Her Private Hell."

Variety - Refn is making his feature film return with "Her Private Hell" after a 10-year hiatus.

Deadline - Refn's film "Her Private Hell" received a 12-minute standing ovation at its world premiere.

Variety - Refn recalled dying for 25 minutes due to a "leaking heart" during heart surgery.

WHERE:

Deadline - The event took place at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, Cannes.

WHEN:

Variety - Refn's near-death experience occurred three years ago.

WHY:

Variety - Refn expressed gratitude for having a second chance at life after his near-death experience.

HOW:

Deadline - Refn described his experience of being dead for over 20 minutes during heart surgery.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 16:07 UTC)

Refn is making his feature film return with "Her Private Hell" after a 10-year hiatus, and during a recent press conference, he shared his intriguing perspective by stating, "Dying is very interesting." This marks a significant moment for the filmmaker as he steps back into the spotlight with this new project. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how his unique vision unfolds in this latest work.

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(UPDATED May 19, 2026 13:55 UTC)

Nicolas Winding Refn's film "Her Private Hell" received a remarkable 12-minute standing ovation at its world premiere held at the Grand Theatre Lumiere in Cannes. During the event, Refn shared a deeply personal story about his near-death experience, recalling how he was clinically dead for over 20 minutes due to a "leaking heart" during heart surgery three years ago. Expressing gratitude for his second chance at life, Refn reflected on the profound impact this experience has had on him.