About

Known credits:
75
Birthday:
1960-09-14
Place of birth:
Hilden, Germany
Website:
N/A

Christian Petzold

Overview

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

Acting
2024 Peter Lorre : Derrière le masque du maudit Actor Self 58
Average
2021 The Cinematograph: Birth of an Art Actor Self - Filmmaker 59
Average
2017 Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold? Actor Self N/A
N/A
2016 Love/Work/Cinema: A Conversation with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss Actor Self N/A
N/A
2015 Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen Actor Self 59
Average
2014 The Making of 'Phoenix' Actor Self 59
Average
2014 Bewegte Republik Deutschland Actor Self N/A
N/A
2008 Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte Actor Self 59
Average
2005 Who is Helene Schwarz? Actor Self N/A
N/A
1993 Navy Cut Actor N/A
N/A
1992 Der Beigeschmack des Todes Actor N/A
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1991 Barrage and Bunker Actor 59
Average
1990 19 Portraits Actor himself N/A
N/A
1990 Isaak Babel - Die Reiterarmee Actor N/A
N/A
Beckenbauer, le dernier empereur Actor N/A
N/A

Directing
2025 Miroirs No. 3 Directing Director N/A
N/A
2023 Afire Directing Director 61
Fair
2020 Undine Directing Director 60
Fair
2018 Transit Directing Director 61
Fair
2017 Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold? Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 Phoenix Directing Director 63
Fair
2012 Barbara Directing Director 64
Fair
2011 Dreileben: Beats Being Dead Directing Director 59
Average
2009 Jerichow Directing Director 59
Average
2007 Yella Directing Director 59
Average
2005 Ghosts Directing Director 58
Average
2003 Wolfsburg Directing Director 59
Average
2002 Something to Remind Me Directing Director 59
Average
2001 The State I Am In Directing Director 60
Fair
1998 The Sex Thief Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Cuba Libre Directing Director 58
Average
1995 Pilots Directing Director 58
Average
1995 Imaginary Architecture, the architect Hans Scharoun Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1994 Deduction Directing Director N/A
N/A
1992 Die UFA Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1992 The Warm Money Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Eastward Directing Director 59
Average
1990 South Directing Director 59
Average
1990 Glory and Misery of the Gifted Directing Director N/A
N/A
1989 Broads Directing Director N/A
N/A
1988 I'm Working Through Everything... Word of Honor! Directing Director N/A
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1987 Mission Directing Director N/A
N/A
The Lucky Ones Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2025 Miroirs No. 3 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
2023 Afire Writing Writer 61
Fair
2020 Undine Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
2018 Transit Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
2017 Where Do You Stand Today, Christian Petzold? Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
2014 Phoenix Writing Screenplay 63
Fair
2012 Barbara Writing Screenplay 64
Fair
2011 Dreileben: Beats Being Dead Writing Writer 59
Average
2009 Jerichow Writing Writer 59
Average
2007 Yella Writing Writer 59
Average
2005 Ghosts Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2003 Wolfsburg Writing Writer 59
Average
2002 Something to Remind Me Writing Writer 59
Average
2001 The State I Am In Writing Writer 60
Fair
1998 The Sex Thief Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1996 Cuba Libre Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1995 Pilots Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1992 The Warm Money Writing Writer 59
Average
1991 Eastward Writing Writer 59
Average
1990 South Writing Writer 59
Average
1989 Broads Writing Writer N/A
N/A
The Lucky Ones Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
1991 The Cinema and the Wind and Photography Production Co-Producer 59
Average

Sound
1994 Vergangen, vergessen, vorüber Sound Sound N/A
N/A
1991 Am Rand Sound Sound N/A
N/A
1990 19 Portraits Sound Sound N/A
N/A

Camera
1991 Eastward Camera Director of Photography 59
Average
1990 South Camera Director of Photography 59
Average
1989 Broads Camera Director of Photography N/A
N/A

Editing
1991 Eastward Editing Editor 59
Average
1990 South Editing Editor 59
Average
1989 Broads Editing Editor N/A
N/A