Oliver Hirschbiegel

Oliver Hirschbiegel (born 29 December 1957) is a German film director. His works include Das Experiment and the Oscar-nominated film about Adolf Hitler, Downfall.

Oliver Hirschbiegel
Hirschbiegel at the Berlinale 2017
Born	(1957-12-29) 29 December 1957 (age 67) Hamburg, West Germany
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1986–present

Early life and education

Oliver Hirschbiegel was born in Hamburg, West Germany on 29 December 1957.^[1]

A Waldorf graduate, Hirschbiegel studied painting and graphic arts, later film, at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts.^[1]

Career

In 1986, he directed his first film, the made-for-television movie Das Go! Projekt, the script for which he had written himself.^{[citation needed]} He became a successful TV director, directing numerous episodes of the Tatort and Kommissar Rex series.^{[citation needed]} His first theatrical release was the well-received movie Das Experiment (2001).^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, he attracted world-wide attention with the film Der Untergang (released in English-speaking countries as Downfall), starring Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler during his last days. The film sparked an extensive debate in Germany over the portrayal of Nazi leaders.^[2] The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards and a nomination for the Academy Award for the best foreign film.^{[citation needed]} One scene from the film has become the basis for a widespread viral video phenomenon.^{[citation needed]} Before directing the film, he was in talks to direct Blade: Trinity.^[3]

He directed his first Hollywood feature The Invasion, which was partly re-shot by Australian director James McTeigue, at the request of the studio.^{[citation needed]}

Hirschbiegel directed the 2013 biographical film Diana, about Diana, Princess of Wales, which was released in September 2013. Actress Naomi Watts plays the title role.^[4]

His film 13 Minutes was selected to be screened out of competition at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in 2015.^[5]

Filmography

• Murderous Decisions [de] (1991, TV film)
• Trickser (1997, TV film)
• Das Urteil [de] (1997, TV film)
• Mortal Friends (1998, TV film)
• Das Experiment (2001)
• My Last Film [de] (2002)
• Downfall (2004)
• Just an Ordinary Jew [de] (2005)
• The Invasion (2007)
• Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
• Diana (2013)
• 13 Minutes (2015)
• Criminal: Germany (2019)
• Der Maler (2021, documentary)
• Das Engelsgesicht (TBA)

Awards and nominations

Wins

• 1998 RTL Golden Lion Awards [de], Best Direction of a TV Film or Series for "Das Urteil" and "Trickser"
• 1998 Adolf Grimme Awards, Audience Award of the 'Marl Group' for "Das Urteil"
• 1999 Bavarian Film Awards for Directing "Mortal Friends"
• 2001 Bergen International Film Festival Audience Award for "Das Experiment"
• 2001 Bavarian Film Awards, Best Direction for Das Experiment
• 2001 Montréal World Film Festival Best Director, "Das Experiment"
• 2002 Istanbul International Film Festival, People's Choice Award, "Das Experiment"
• 2004 Bambi Awards Film – National, "Downfall"
• 2005 Bavarian Film Awards Audience Award for "Downfall"
• 2005 Amanda Awards Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske kinofilm), "Downfall"
• 2006 Bodil Awards Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film), "Downfall"
• 2006 Fajr International Film Festival International Competition – Best Technical or Artistic Achievement, "Downfall"
• 2006 Robert Award Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film), "Downfall"
• 2009 Prix Europa Special Commendation – TV Fiction "Five Minutes of Heaven"
• 2009 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award, World Cinema, Dramatic – "Five Minutes of Heaven"

Nominations

• 1998 Adolf Grimme Awards Adolf Grimme Award, Fiction/Entertainment – "Das Urteil"
• 2001 European Film Awards Audience Award, Best Director, "Das Experiment"
• 2002 Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award, Best Film, "Das Experiment"
• 2003 Paris Film Festival Grand Prix, "Das Experiment"
• 2005 Mar del Plata Film Festival Best Film, "Downfall"
• 2005 Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
• 2006 Goya Awards Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea), "Downfall"
• 2006 Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera), "Downfall"
• 2009 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, World Cinema – Dramatic, "Five Minutes of Heaven"
• 2010 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Broadcasting Press Guild Award, Best Single Drama – "Five Minutes of Heaven"