About

Known credits:
55
Birthday:
1955-08-22
Place of birth:
Berlin, Germany
Website:
Click here

Thomas Heise

Overview

Thomas Heise was born in Berlin, capital of the German Democratic Republic, in 1955. After school he trained as a printer. After his military service in the East German armed forces he began to work as an assistant director at the DEFA - Studio for Feature Films in Potsdam Babelsberg in 1975. Between 1978 and 1983 Heise studied at the Academy of Film & Television in Potsdam-Babelsberg (HFF/B). His first film, the documentary Wozu denn über diese Leute einen Film/Why a Film About These People - produced entirely with materials bought on the black market - was banned from public screening. Since 1983 he has worked as a free-lance writer and director in the areas of theatre, audio drama and documentary. Until the end of the GDR all his documentary efforts were however either blocked by what was – in official jargon – called 'operative means' or destroyed or confiscated.

Since the beginning of the 1990s Heise's documentaries have attracted national and international attention. Since 2007 he's been teaching as a Professor for Film and Media Art at Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe. Thomas Heise's earlier films dealt with social phenomena in the GDR and the country's bureaucratic apparatus. From the late 80s his focus has moved to the changes individuals, families and regional communities have had to undergo in the aftermath of the German reunification. The works of the filmmaker encompass a wide range of contemporary socially relevant topics such as privatisation, the re-organisation of the formerly industrial sphere, unemployment and rightwing radicalism to name but a few.

Known for

Acting
2012 Documentary filmmaking: Christoph Hübner talks with Thomas Heise Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Detection Actor Bäckert (voice) 59
Average

Directing
2022 Bushido gegen die Clans - Für die Familie Directing Director N/A
N/A
2019 Heimat Is a Space in Time Directing Director 59
Average
2014 Städtebewohner Directing Director 59
Average
2012 Consequence Directing Director 59
Average
2012 Die Lage Directing Director 59
Average
2011 Solar System Directing Director 59
Average
2010 20 × Brandenburg Directing Director N/A
N/A
2009 24 Hours Berlin Directing Director 59
Average
2009 Material Directing Director 59
Average
2008 Kinder. Wie die Zeit vergeht. Directing Director 58
Average
2006 Im Glück (Neger) Directing Director 59
Average
2005 Mein Bruder - We'll Meet Again Directing Director N/A
N/A
2004 Der Ausländer Directing Director N/A
N/A
2002 Vaterland Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Meine Kneipe Directing Director N/A
N/A
2000 Neustadt (Stau – Der Stand der Dinge) Directing Director 59
Average
1998 Barluschke Directing Director N/A
N/A
1992 Stau – Jetzt geht’s los Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Iron Age Directing Director 58
Average
1990 Snack Bar Special Directing Director N/A
N/A
1985 The People's Police Force, 1985 Directing Director 59
Average
1984 The House, 1984 Directing Director 59
Average
1980 So Why Make a Film About These People? Directing Director N/A
N/A
1979 Imbiß Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2019 Heimat Is a Space in Time Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2014 Städtebewohner Writing Writer 59
Average
2012 Consequence Writing Writer 59
Average
2012 Die Lage Writing Writer 59
Average
2011 Solar System Writing Writer 59
Average
2009 Material Writing Writer 59
Average
2008 Kinder. Wie die Zeit vergeht. Writing Writer 58
Average
2006 Im Glück (Neger) Writing Writer 59
Average
2005 Mein Bruder - We'll Meet Again Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2004 Der Ausländer Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2002 Vaterland Writing Writer 59
Average
2000 Meine Kneipe Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2000 Neustadt (Stau – Der Stand der Dinge) Writing Writer 59
Average
1998 Barluschke Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1992 Stau – Jetzt geht’s los Writing Writer 59
Average
1991 Iron Age Writing Writer 58
Average
1990 Snack Bar Special Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1985 The People's Police Force, 1985 Writing Writer 59
Average
1984 The House, 1984 Writing Writer 59
Average
1980 So Why Make a Film About These People? Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
2016 Notorious Deeds Production Consulting Producer N/A
N/A
2011 Solar System Production Producer 59
Average

Sound
1984 The House, 1984 Sound Sound 59
Average

Crew
2012 Detection Crew Thanks 59
Average
2011 Kids Crew Thanks 59
Average
2009 Material Crew Cinematography 59
Average
2006 Im Glück (Neger) Crew Cinematography 59
Average
2004 Der Ausländer Crew Cinematography N/A
N/A
2002 Vaterland Crew Cinematography 59
Average