Christian Petzold
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (42)
Mirrors No. 3
Director (Directing)
2025
Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit
as Self
2024
Afire
Writer (Writing)
2023
The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art
as Self - Filmmaker
2021
Undine
Director (Directing)
2020
Transit
Director (Directing)
2018
Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold?
as Self
2017
Love/Work/Cinema: A Conversation with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss
as Self
2016
Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen
as Self
2015
Phoenix
Director (Directing)
2014
The Making of 'Phoenix'
as Self
2014
Barbara
Director (Directing)
2012
Dreileben: Beats Being Dead
Director (Directing)
2011
Jerichow
Director (Directing)
2009
Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte
as Self
2008
Yella
Writer (Writing)
2007
Ghosts
Screenplay (Writing)
2005
Who is Helene Schwarz?
as Self
2005
Wolfsburg
Director (Directing)
2003
Something to Remind Me
Director (Directing)
2002
The State I Am In
Director (Directing)
2001
The Sex Thief
Director (Directing)
1998
Cuba Libre
Screenplay (Writing)
1996
Pilots
Screenplay (Writing)
1995
Imaginary Architecture, the architect Hans Scharoun
Assistant Director (Directing)
1995
Vergangen, vergessen, vorüber
Sound (Sound)
1994
Deduction
Director (Directing)
1994
Navy Cut
1993
Die UFA
Assistant Director (Directing)
1992
Der Beigeschmack des Todes
1992
The Warm Money
Writer (Writing)
1992
Eastward
Director of Photography (Camera)
1991
Barrage and Bunker
1991
Am Rand
Sound (Sound)
1991
The Cinema and the Wind and Photography
Co-Producer (Production)
1991
South
Director of Photography (Camera)
1990
Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee
1990
19 Portraits
as himself
1990
Glory and Misery of the Gifted
Director (Directing)
1990
Broads
Director of Photography (Camera)
1989
I'm Working Through Everything... Word of Honor!
Director (Directing)
1988
Mission
Director (Directing)
1987
