Christian Petzold

Christian Petzold

1960-09-14

Biography

Christian Petzold (born September 14, 1960; Hilden) is a German filmmaker, best known for directing the films Barbara, Jerichow, and Phoenix. He is credited to the Berlin School and has received numerous prizes and awards. Petzold writes his own scenarios, often collaborating with Harun Farocki. As his former teacher at dffb, Farocki was a major influence on Petzold, who, along with Angela Schanelec and Thomas Arslan, is generally considered to be part of the Berlin School. While the Berlin School is often associated with a new turn towards realism and political cinema, Petzold's films, while they address issues of work and employment, also deal with conflicts between life and death. His first film was "Pilots" (1995), which he directed for his film school graduation in 1995. While "The State I Am In" (2000) was his first feature film, also noting his first collaboration with Harun Farocki. In 2005, his film "Ghosts"was presented at the Berlin International Film Festival, as was his 2007 film "Yella". Petzold's film Barbara (2012) competed in competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival and Petzold won the Silver Bear for Best Director. The film was selected as the German entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. For the film Afire (2023), Christian Petzold received the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2023.

Also appears in

The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art

The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art

7.3

19 Portraits

19 Portraits

Not yet rated

The Making of ’Phoenix’

The Making of ’Phoenix’

4.0

Der Beigeschmack des Todes

Der Beigeschmack des Todes

Not yet rated

Navy Cut

Navy Cut

Not yet rated

Barrage and Bunker

Barrage and Bunker

5.0

Who is Helene Schwarz?

Who is Helene Schwarz?

Not yet rated

Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit

Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit

7.5

Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold?

Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold?

Not yet rated

Love/Work/Cinema: A Conversation with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss

Love/Work/Cinema: A Conversation with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss

Not yet rated

Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte

Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte

6.3

Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen

Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen

7.0

Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee

Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee

Not yet rated