Vanishing theorems for ample vector bundles

We prove a general vanishing theorem for the cohomology of products of symmetric and skew-symmetric powers of an ample vector bundle on a smooth complex projective variety. Special cases include an extension of classical theorems of Griffiths and Le Potier to the whole Dolbeault cohomology, and an answer to a problem raised by Demailly. An application to degeneracy loci is given.