Edward Berger (born 1970) is a German-born director and screenwriter who holds Swiss and Austrian citizenship. He is known for the German films Jack (2014), All My Loving (2019), and All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), which won numerous international awards, including the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film; as well as for the TV series Deutschland 83 (2015) and Patrick Melrose (2018) and film Conclave (2024).
Edward Berger | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Berger in 2024 | |
| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) |
| Citizenship | Swiss / Austrian |
| Education | Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig (1991) Tisch School of the Arts (1994) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Works |
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Early life and education
editEdward Berger was born in 1970[1] Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, then West Germany.[2] His mother was from Switzerland, and his father, who was from Austria,[3][4] worked as a logistics manager at Volkswagen. He grew up in a middle-class family with three siblings.[2]
Berger graduated from the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium.[2][5] After graduating from high school, he attended the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig from 1990 to 1991. He then transferred to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he finished his studies in directing in 1994.[2][6]
He moved to Berlin in 1997.[7]
Berger has both Swiss[8] and Austrian citizenship through his parents.[9][10][11][12][13] He told Die Welt in 2023 that while he is not German by passport, he supports Germany in international football tournaments.[10] "If Germany plays Switzerland, I'm for Germany," he told Variety.[4] He told Die Zeit in 2023: "My father is Austrian, my mother Swiss, so there would be enough reason for me to be a little confused. What I always know is: I am European".[9]
Career
edit.jpg)
Berger has worked mostly in Germany and the United States.[14] He gathered his first work experience at the U.S. independent production company Good Machine, working, among others, on the films of Ang Lee, Todd Haynes,[7][15] and Edward Burns. In 1994 he headed the production department of the company.[12] In 1996 he gave a guest lecture at Columbia University film school,[12] and at Universität der Künste Berlin[7] and at the HFF Potsdam.
His first feature film, based on his own screenplay, was Gomez – Kopf oder Zahl ("Gomez – Heads or Tails"), in 1998.[12] In 2002, he directed a telemovie called Asylum, which was nominated for the International Emmy Award as well as the Grimme-Preis in Germany. In 2004, he wrote and directed a telemovie, Welcome to the Club.[16]
In 2008 worked as a screenwriter and director for four episodes of season 2 of television series KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst (KDD – Berlin Crime Squad).[16] In 2012, his film A Good Summer was awarded the Grimme-Preis.[8]
Berger co-wrote the script for his third feature film, Jack with regular collaborator Nele Mueller-Stöfen[17] (also his wife[18]). The film premiered in competition at the 2014 Berlinale,[17][19] and was awarded the 2015 German Film Award in silver for the best feature film, after being nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. It also won Best Director and Best Picture at the German Directors Guild Awards.[16] Berger said in 2023 that he has always looked for a challenge in filmmaking: "That started with Jack, where the camera was really only on the boy's face, because I didn't want to give the audience any choice but to identify with him".[15][4]
In August 2014, Berger directed the eight-part television series Deutschland 83, which premiered as a special entry in the 2015 Berlinale. It was sold internationally, including to Canal+ in France and Channel 4 in the UK, and became the first German television show ever to air in the US.[16] The series won an International Emmy in 2016.[8]
He also directed the limited series Patrick Melrose (2018), starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for which he won his first BAFTA Award, for Best Limited Series.[citation needed]
Berger wrote, directed, and produced All Quiet on the Western Front, released in 2022.[15] The film received more Oscar nominations than any other German film before it (nine), after winning seven BAFTAs, surpassing the previous record of five set by Cinema Paradiso in 1988.[4] At the Oscars, it won Best International Film.[20] It was praised by critics internationally, but German reviewers and historians criticised it for its lack of closeness to the book and lack of historical accuracy.[21]
His 2024 film Conclave, a drama set in the Holy See based on a novel by Robert Harris,[14] enjoyed great success, both critically and with audiences.[3][22][23] He described the film compared with All Quiet on the Western Front, as "like [going] from a physical war to an intellectual war. It felt like one of those great political conspiracy thrillers from the 1970s".[14]
His next film, due to be released in 2025, is The Ballad of a Small Player, with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton.[14]
Berger has been slated to direct the next film in the Bourne franchise (reportedly titled The Bourne Dilemma).[24][25] However, in October 2024 Berger was vague about his involvement in the film: "It's really not clear whether… I'm doing that film or not. I'm not doing it right now. And I really don't know what I will do in the future".[26]
Berger has also directed and produced music videos and artist film portraits.[12]
Personal life
editBerger married actress Nele Mueller-Stöfen.[27] Mueller-Stöfen, born in Berlin in 1967, has acted on stage and screen, and is also a screenwriter. She has starred in several of Berger's films, as well as collaborating on the script of Jack.[18]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes and refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Strait-Jacket | Yes | No | No | [12] |
| 1993 | Sidewalk Hotel | Yes | No | No | [12] |
| 1994 | Schrottplatz Träumereien (Smelly Dinners) | Yes | No | No | [12] |
| 1995 | Wanderbread | Yes | No | No | [12] |
| 1998 | Gomez – Kopf oder Zahl | Yes | Yes | No | [12] |
| 2001 | Female 2 Seeks Happy End | Yes | Yes | No | [16] |
| 2014 | Jack | Yes | Yes | No | [16] |
| 2019 | All My Loving | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2022 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2024 | Conclave | Yes | No | No | |
| 2025 | The Ballad of a Small Player | Yes | No | Yes |
Television
editTV series
- 2001, 2002: Schimanski (2 episodes)
- 2004: Bloch (Episode "Schwestern")
- 2005, 2006: Unter Verdacht (Wrote 2 episodes, directed 1 episode)
- 2006: Tatort (Episode "Das letzte Rennen")
- 2008: KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst (Director of 3 episodes and book with 2 episodes)
- 2010: Polizeiruf 110 (Wrote and directed episode "Aquarius")
- 2013: Tatort (Episode "Wer das Schweigen bricht")
- 2015: Deutschland 83
- 2018: The Terror (Episodes 1, 2, 4)
- 2018: Patrick Melrose
- 2020: Your Honor
TV movies
- 2007: Windland
- 2011: A Good Summer (screenwriter and director)
- 2012: Mom's Gotta Go (director)
Awards and nominations
editIndividual recognition and awards
edit- 2000: Variety – Award "Ten European Directors To Watch", after Female 2 Seeks Happy End[16][8]
- 2017: Variety – "Ten European Directors To Watch in 2017"[28]
- 2015: Fellowship for Villa Aurora's artist-in-residence program,[16] along with his wife Nele Mueller-Stöfen[18]
- 2024: A Tribute to... award at the Zurich Film Festival[8][29]
Jack (2014)
edit- 2014: Deutscher Regiepreis Metropolis (German Directors Guild Awards), Best Film and Best Director awards, for Jack[30][31][16]
- 2015: Bavarian Film Awards, Best Young Producer, for Jack[32]
- 2015: German Film Prize in Silver for the Best Feature Film for Jack (also nominated for Best Direction and Best Screenplay)[8][16][30][31]
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
edit- 2022: National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for All Quiet on the Western Front[8]
- 2022: San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for All Quiet on the Western Front
- 2023: BAFTA Award for Best Direction, for All Quiet on the Western Front
- 2023: BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for All Quiet on the Western Front
- 2023: Academy Award for Best International Film for All Quiet on the Western Front[8]
- 2022: Best Foreign Language Film, Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award, for All Quiet on the Western Front[33][8]
- 2023: German Film Award for Best Fiction Film at the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards), for All Quiet on the Western Front,[8] as well as 7 other awards[13]
- 2023: Jupiter Award, Best Film TV & Streaming, for All Quiet on the Western Front[8]
Conclave (2024)
edit- 2025: Nominated, Oscars, for Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Film Editing, Production Design[8]
- 2025: Nominated, BAFTA Awards, Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Casting, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Original Score, Production Design, Sound[8]
- 2024: Golden Globes, Nominated, Best Motion Picture - Drama[8]
- 2024: Golden Globes, Nominated, Best Director - Motion Picture[8]
Other film and TV awards
edit- 1998: Winner, Film Prize of the City Lünen at the Kinofest Lünen, for Gomez – Kopf oder Zahl[8]
- 2003: Nomination, Grimme-Preis, for the episode Asyl – crime series Schimanski[8]
- 2004: Nomination, International Emmy Award for the episode Asyl – crime series Schimanski[8]
- 2008: Winner, Best Series, in the German TV Awards, for KDD[16]
- 2011: Nomination, Grimme-Preis, for Mutter muss weg (Mom's Gotta Go)[8][16]
- 2012: Winner, Grimme-Preis, for Ein guter Sommer (A Good Summer)[8][16]
- 2013: Nomination for the Hamburger Krimipreis for Mutter muss weg (Mom's Gotta Go)
- 2015: Series Mania TV awards, Paris, Best International Drama Series, for Deutschland 83[16]
- 2016: Goldene Kamera, Best Miniseries, for Deutschland 83[8]
- 2016: Grimme-Preis, for Deutschland 83[8]
- 2016: International Emmy Award, Best Drama Series, for Deutschland 83[8]
- 2018: Nominated, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, for Patrick Melrose
- 2019: BAFTA Award for Best Mini-series, for Patrick Melrose[8]
- 2019: Edinburgh TV Festival, Best TV Drama, for Patrick Melrose[8]
References
edit- ^ "e-TALENTA". www.e-talenta.eu. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Edward Berger". Munzinger Biographie (in German). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ a b Roxborough, Scott (19 September 2024). "Zurich Festival to Honor 'Conclave' Director Edward Berger". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d Berger, Edward (21 February 2023). "'All Quiet on the Western Front' Director Edward Berger: 'I Could Never Say I'm Proud to Be German'". Variety (Interview). Interviewed by Davis, Clayton. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "Tatort: Wolfsburger als Regisseur erfolgreich". Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, retrieved, 29 April 2015
- ^ Gern, Joachim. "Edward Bergers Profil". Die Agenten. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. bei der Agentur Die Agenten, retrieved, 20 January 2014
- ^ a b c "Vita Edward Berger". Soup Film. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Edward Berger". Die Agenten (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b Uslar, Moritz von (15 March 2023). "Edward Berger: "Den deutschen Filmern fehlt oft die Radikalität"". Die Zeit (in German). ISSN 0044-2070. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
Mein Vater ist Österreicher, meine Mutter Schweizerin, es gäbe also genug Grund für mich, ein wenig verwirrt zu sein. Was ich immer weiß, ist: Ich bin Europäer...ZEIT: Diese Unklarheit müssen Sie ausräumen: Sie sind Deutscher, aber haben außerdem einen Schweizer Pass, richtig? Berger: Ich habe einen österreichischen und einen Schweizer Pass, durch meine Eltern. Aber ich bin in Deutschland geboren. Beim Fußball halte ich klar zu Deutschland.
[My father is Austrian, my mother Swiss, so there would be enough reason for me to be a little confused.What I always know is: I am European...ZEIT: You have to clear up this ambiguity: you are German, but also have a Swiss passport right? Berger: I have an Austrian and a Swiss passport through my parents. But I was born in Germany. In football, I clearly stick to Germany.] - ^ a b "Edward Berger: „Nein, in Deutschland wurde ich in keine Talkshow eingeladen" - WELT". Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
Obwohl ... „Sind Sie überhaupt Deutscher, Herr Berger?" – „Vom Pass her nicht. Ich bin Schweiz-Österreicher, aber in Deutschland geboren und aufgewachsen. Wenn Deutschland gegen die Schweiz oder gegen Österreich spielt, bin ich für die Deutschen."
[Although ... "Are you even German, Mr. Berger." - "Not by passport. I am Swiss-Austrian, but born and grew up in Germany. When Germany plays against Switzerland or against Austria, I am for the Germans."] - ^ "e-TALENTA". www.e-talenta.eu. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Edward Berger". swissfilms. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b Gabelia, Alexander (30 August 2024). "FNE Podcast: Edward Berger: Director and Screenwriter". FilmNewEurope.com. Retrieved 30 January 2025. Includes link to audio.
- ^ a b c d Berger, Edward (25 October 2024). "'Conclave' Director Edward Berger on How Universal Doubt and the Allure of Power Inspired His Gripping Vatican Thriller". Entertainment Voice (Interview). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
Oh, that is not a conversation yet. I really don't know what I'll be doing next. Up next I have a movie I already shot titled "The Ballad of a Small Player" with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton. It's coming out in a year. I'm sitting here editing it. Anything that's coming after that I would happily talk about but I don't know yet
- ^ a b c Berger, Edward (8 March 2023). "Edward Berger: "All it takes is a good script"". The Talks (Interview). Interviewed by Heidmann, Patrick. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Villa Aurora Grant Recipients 2015". VATMH. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b Lodge, Guy (7 February 2014). "Berlin Film Review: 'Jack'". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ a b c "Grant Recipient Details". VATMH. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Berlinale: Jack impresses with great performances". Cineuropa. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Pulver, Andrew (13 March 2023). "All Quiet on the Western Front wins best international feature film Oscar". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Oltermann, Philip (27 January 2023). "German critics pan Oscar-nominated All Quiet On the Western Front". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Conclave". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (18 November 2024). "How 'Conclave' Became One of Awards Season's Biggest Indie Box Office Hits". Variety. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Ruimy, Jordan (12 October 2024). "Edward Berger's 'The Bourne Dilemma' to Star Matt Damon". World of Reel. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Moran, Edward (13 October 2024). "Edward Berger Will Reportedly Direct New 'Bourne' Film with Matt Damon". Cinema Daily US. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Hermanns, Grant (26 October 2024). "Bourne 6 Reports Get Uncertain Update From Director 11 Months After Matt Damon Sequel Announcement". ScreenRant. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Nele Mueller Stöfen with Husband Edward Berger Opening the 70 Berlinale with the Opening film..." IMAGO. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
...My Salinger Year, Opening of The 70th Berlinale on 20 February 2020 at Berlinale Palace in Berlin
- ^ "10 Europeans to Watch in 2017". Variety. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "ZFF Gäste: Diese Stars besuchten uns 2024 in Zürich". Zurich Film Festival. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Berlinale 2019 – Panorama: All My Loving". German Films Quarterly. 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Conclave". Marrakech International Film Festival. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "Audi Festival of German Film 2015". 8 April 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2025 – via Issuu.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (14 February 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Named Best Feature by Vancouver Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 January 2025.