Benjamin Heisenberg (born 9 June 1974) is a German film director and screenwriter. He has directed sixteen films since 1995. His film Schläfer was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. His 2010 film, The Robber, was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.
He is the grandson of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Werner Heisenberg, via his father Martin Heisenberg. He is co-editor and co-publisher of the German film magazine Revolver.
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Early life
Benjamin Heisenberg was born in Tübingen, West Germany to Martin Heisenberg and Apollonia, Countess of Eulenburg. His father was professor of neurobiology at the University of Würzburg, and Benjamin grew up in small village near there. In 1993, he studied at the academy of fine arts in Munich. He finished his studies in 1998, winning the "Debütantenpreis", given to the three best students of the year.
Filmography
1995: Es zogen einst (shortfilm)
1996: Terremoto (shortfilm)
1997: Hastewas, Bistewas (shortfilm)
1998: Alles wieder still (shortfilm)
2000: Der Bombenkönig (shortfilm)
2002: Am See (shortfilm)
2003: This Very Moment (German: Milchwald) (co-writer)
2004: Die Gelegenheit (shortfilm)
2004–2005: Meier, Müller, Schmidt I–III (shortfilm)
2005: Sleeper
2005: La Paz (shortfilm)
2007: On Fiction (shortfilm)
2007: On Manipulation (shortfilm)
2007: On Romance (shortfilm)
2010: The Robber
2014: Superegos
2015: Brienner 45 (14 Films – Co-Producer/Co-director)
2015: Das unsichbare Dritte (shortfilm)
2015: Waterfall (shortfilm)
2015: War of the Worlds (shortfilm)
2015: Opfer (shortfilm)
2015: Mon Oncle (shortfilm)
Awards
2000: Award for the best Diploma of the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
2001: Award in the section Fine Arts of the city of Munich
2004: Starter Film Award of the city of Munich, for The Opportunity
2004: Grand Prix du Jury (Films D’Écoles Européens), Angers European First Film Festival, for The Opportunity
2005: First Steps Award for Sleeper
2005: Midas Award, Europaws, for best fiction drama set in science and technology, London, for Sleeper
2005: Award for Best Movie in the Section Perspectives Cinéma Tout Ecran, Geneva for Sleeper
2006: Special Award of the Jury, Angers European First Film Festival, for Sleeper
2006: Max-Ophüls-Preis (Award for Best Film, Best Script, Best Music) for Sleeper
2006: Award for Best Movie, FilmArtFestival Mecklenburg-Pomerania for Sleeper
2006: Award for Best Movie, Festival du Cinéma Politique, Barcelona, for Sleeper
2006: Bavarian Culture Award of the E. ON Bayern AG
2006: Young Talent Award of the DEFA-Foundation
2010: Bavarian Film Award, Category Best Young Director, for The Robber
Exhibitions (selection)
1995 "München liegt am Meer", Munich
1996 "Paternoster" in the first Munich Highrise (Group Exhibition).
1999 "Benjamnin Heisenberg", Gallery Kampl, Kunstforum München.
2000 "Multiple Choice" Group Exhibition in the BBK, Galerie der Künstler, Munich (Group Exhibition).
2000 "Ausstellung der Debütanten" (Drawings 1993 – 99), Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (Group Exhibition, Künstlerbuch).
2001 Exhibition for the Sponsorship Award for fine arts of the city of Munich, (Group Exhibition, Catalog).
2002 "Stories — Narrative Structures in Contemporary Art", curated by Stephanie Rosenthal, Haus der Kunst, Munich (Group Exhibition; Catalog).
2002 "Intermedium 2", Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (ZKM) (Group Exhibition; Catalog).
2004 "Rote Zelle", graduates of the class of Olaf Metzel, Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, Rote Zelle, Munich (Group Exhibition; Catalog).
2005 "Playtime! Play, Gaming and Sports", Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London (Group Exhibition).
2005 "Say No Productions 2", Gallery Klüser, Munich (Group Exhibition).
2005 "Favoriten", Lenbachhaus, Kunstbau, Munich (Group Exhibition, Catalog).
2005 "Neue Heimat" Rathausgalerie, Munich (Group Exhibition, Catalog).