Christian Petzold

Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Known Credits

22

Gender

Male

Birthday

1960-09-14 (65 years old)

Place of Birth

Hilden, Germany

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.

Known For

  • Volle Kanne

    Volle Kanne

  • Grimme Award

    Grimme Award

  • German Film Award

    German Film Award

  • Romy Award

    Romy Award

  • West.art am Sonntag

    West.art am Sonntag

  • German Television Award

    German Television Award

  • Bavarian Film Awards

    Bavarian Film Awards

  • Seven Songs

    Seven Songs

  • The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art

    The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art

  • Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen

    Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen

  • Bewegte Republik Deutschland

    Bewegte Republik Deutschland

  • Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte

    Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte

  • Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit

    Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit

  • Who is Helene Schwarz?

    Who is Helene Schwarz?

  • Navy Cut

    Navy Cut

  • The Making of 'Phoenix'

    The Making of 'Phoenix'

  • Der Beigeschmack des Todes

    Der Beigeschmack des Todes

  • Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold?

    Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold?

  • Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee

    Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee

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

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

  • Barrage and Bunker

    Barrage and Bunker

  • 19 Portraits

    19 Portraits