Thomas Heise

Thomas Heise (b. 1955, Berlin) initially trained as a printer and, after his military service, he worked as an assistant director at DEFA studios. In 1978-83 he attended the Konrad Wolf University of Film and Television. His documentary debut Why a Film about These People? (1980) was made using material acquired on the black market and it was subsequently banned. Heise then broke off his studies and earned a living as a free-lance writer and director. Until the fall of the Berlin Wall none of his films was screened. The documentary Iron Age (1991) was presented at Berlin, as was Jammed – Let’s Get Moving (1992). His other films are also shown at prestigious festivals all over Europe. The director often focuses on people marginalised by society, and through his work he attempts to penetrate their environment. He has been a lecturer at Karlsruhe University since 2007.

48. MFF Karlovy Vary