Jump to content

Edward Berger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Edward Berger, see Edward Berger (disambiguation).

Edward Berger
Berger in 2025
Born (1970-06-25) 25 June 1970 (age 55)
Wolfsburg, West Germany
CitizenshipSwiss / Austrian
EducationHochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig (1991)
Tisch School of the Arts (1994)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1994–present
Works

Edward Berger (German: [ˈɛtvaʁt ˈbɛʁɡɐ]; born 1970) is a Swiss and Austrian director and screenwriter. He is known for his work in Germany, where he was born and grew up, such as the German films Jack (2014), All My Loving (2019), and All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), as well as his English-language debut Conclave (2024). He also directed several television series including Deutschland 83 (2015) and Patrick Melrose (2018).

All Quiet on the Western Front won Berger an Academy Award for Best International Film, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won three British Academy Film Awards. For Conclave, Berger received his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Director and a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.

Early life and education

[edit]

Edward Berger was born in 1970[1] in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, then West Germany.[2] His mother was from Switzerland, and his father, who worked as a logistics manager at Volkswagen, was from Austria.[3][4] He grew up in a middle-class family with three siblings.[2]

Berger graduated from Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium in Wolfsburg in the late 1980s.[2][5] After graduating from the Gymnasium, 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][1][11][12] 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]

1992–2017: Early work and German films

[edit]
Berger at the 2018 Berlinale

Berger has worked mostly in Germany and the United States.[13] 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][14] and Edward Burns. In 1994 he headed the production department of the company.[11] In 1996 he gave a guest lecture at Columbia University film school,[11] 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.[11] 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.[15]

In 2008, he worked as a screenwriter and director for four episodes of season 2 of television series KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst (KDD – Berlin Crime Squad).[15] In 2012, his film A Good Summer [de] was awarded the Grimme-Preis.[8]

Berger co-wrote the script for his third feature film, Jack with regular collaborator Nele Mueller-Stöfen [de][16] (also his wife[17]). The film premiered in competition at the 2014 Berlinale,[16][18] 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.[15] 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".[14][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.[15] The series won an International Emmy in 2016.[8]

2018–present: Mainstream acclaim and independent film success

[edit]

He also directed the limited series Patrick Melrose (2018), starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for which he won his first BAFTA Award, for Best Limited Series.[19] His feature film All My Loving premiered on 9 February 2019, in the Panorama section of the 2019 Berlinale.[20] The film was nominated in several categories for the preselection of the 2019 German Film Award.[21]

Berger wrote, directed, and produced All Quiet on the Western Front, released in 2022.[14] 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.[22] 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.[23][24]

His 2024 film Conclave, a drama set in the Holy See based on a novel by Robert Harris,[13] enjoyed great success, both critically and with audiences.[3][25][26] 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".[13] His next film, due to be released in 2025, is Ballad of a Small Player, with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton.[13][27] Berger has also directed and produced several music videos, short films, and artist film portraits.[11]

Upcoming projects

[edit]

Berger has been slated to direct the next film in the Bourne franchise (reportedly titled The Bourne Dilemma).[28][29] 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".[30]

Berger has signed to direct the science fiction thriller film The Barrier, starring Austin Butler and written by MacMillan Hedges, based on his own short story of the same name.[31] He is also set to direct a film about Evan Gershkovich, with David Weil set to pen the script.[32] Berger is also attached to direct The Riders, starring Brad Pitt and written by David Kajganich, based on the novel of the same name by Tim Winton. [33] He is set to produce 1949, an upcoming biopic of Thomas Mann directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, based on the novel The Magician by Colm Tóibín.[34][35][36]

Personal life

[edit]

Berger is married to German actress and screenwriter Nele Mueller-Stöfen [de].[37] She has starred in several of Berger's films, as well as collaborating on the script of Jack.[17]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Producer Refs.
2014 Jack Yes Yes No [15]
2019 All My Loving Yes Yes No
2022 All Quiet on the Western Front Yes Yes Yes
2024 Conclave Yes No Executive
2025 Ballad of a Small Player Yes No Yes
TBA 1949 No No Yes [38]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Refs.
1992 Strait-Jacket Yes Yes Television movie
1993 Sidewalk Hotel Yes Yes Television movie
1994 Schrottplatz Träumereien Yes Yes Television movie
1995 Wanderbread Yes Yes Television movie
1998 Gomez – Kopf oder Zahl Yes Yes Television movie
2001 Female 2 Seeks Happy End Yes Yes Television movie
2001–2002 Schimanski Yes No 2 episodes
2004 Bloch Yes No Episode: "Schwestern"
2005–2006 Under Suspicion Yes Yes Wrote 2 episodes / directed 1 episode
2006–2013 Tatort Yes No 2 episodes
2007 Windland Yes No Television movie
2008 KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst Yes Yes Director of 3 episodes / Writer of 2 episodes
2010 Polizeiruf 110 Yes Yes Episode: "Aquarius"
2011 A Good Summer [de] Yes Yes Television movie
2012 Mom's Gotta Go [de] Yes No Television movie
2015 Deutschland 83 Yes No 5 episodes
2018 The Terror Yes No 3 episodes
2018 Patrick Melrose Yes No Showtime limited series; 5 episodes
2019 Eden No Yes Creator; 6 episodes
2020 Your Honor Yes No Showtime series; 3 episodes

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
Academy Awards 2022 Best Adapted Screenplay All Quiet on the Western Front Nominated [39]
BAFTA Awards 2022 Best Direction Won [40]
Best Adapted Screenplay Won
Best Film Not in the English Language Won
2024 Best Director Conclave Nominated [41]
Outstanding British Film Won
Berlin International Film Festival 2014 Golden Bear Jack Nominated [42]
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival 2024 Best Director Conclave Won [43]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2024 Best Director Nominated [44]
Directors Guild of America Awards 2024 Outstanding Director – Feature Film Nominated [45]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2018 Outstanding Director for a Limited Series or Movie Patrick Melrose Nominated [46]
Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Director - Motion Picture Conclave Nominated [47]
Grimme Awards 2003 Outstanding Individual Achievement Schimanski Nominated [8]
2012 Fiction A Good Summer Won [8][15]
2013 Fiction Mutter muss weg Nominated [8][15]
2016 Fiction - Series/Miniseries Deutschland 83 Nominated [8]

Individual recognitions

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "e-TALENTA". www.e-talenta.eu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Edward Berger". Munzinger Biographie (in German). Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b Roxborough, Scott (19 September 2024). "Zurich Festival to Honor 'Conclave' Director Edward Berger". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  4. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Tatort: Wolfsburger als Regisseur erfolgreich". Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, retrieved, 29 April 2015
  6. ^ Gern, Joachim. "Edward Bergers Profil". Die Agenten. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. bei der Agentur Die Agenten, retrieved, 20 January 2014
  7. ^ a b c "Vita Edward Berger". Soup Film. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Edward Berger". Die Agenten (in German). Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  9. ^ 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.]
  10. ^ 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."]
  11. ^ a b c d e "Edward Berger". swissfilms. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  12. ^ Gabelia, Alexander (30 August 2024). "FNE Podcast: Edward Berger: Director and Screenwriter". FilmNewEurope.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2025. Includes link to audio.
  13. ^ 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). Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. 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
  14. ^ a b c Berger, Edward (8 March 2023). "Edward Berger: "All it takes is a good script"". The Talks (Interview). Interviewed by Heidmann, Patrick. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Villa Aurora Grant Recipients 2015". VATMH. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  16. ^ a b Lodge, Guy (7 February 2014). "Berlin Film Review: 'Jack'". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Grant Recipient Details". VATMH. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Berlinale: Jack impresses with great performances". Cineuropa. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  19. ^ "BAFTA Awards: Television in 2019". BAFTA. 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  20. ^ Björn Becher. "All My Loving – Drei Geschichten aus dem Leben". Filmstarts (in German). Archived from the original on 13 February 2019.
  21. ^ "Deutscher Filmpreis 2019: Vierzehn Filme mit Filmuni- und Alumni-Background in der Vorauswahl Spielfilm". Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf (in German). Archived from the original on 13 February 2019.
  22. ^ Pulver, Andrew (13 March 2023). "All Quiet on the Western Front wins best international feature film Oscar". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  23. ^ Oltermann, Philip (27 January 2023). "German critics pan Oscar-nominated All Quiet On the Western Front". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  24. ^ Defroe, John (16 September 2022). "'All Quiet on the Western Front' Review: A Visceral Take on the German Anti-War Classic". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  25. ^ Farber, Stephen (31 August 2024). "'Conclave' Review: Ralph Fiennes Gives a Career-Best Performance in Edward Berger's Gripping Vatican-Set Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  26. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (18 November 2024). "How 'Conclave' Became One of Awards Season's Biggest Indie Box Office Hits". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  27. ^ Thompson, Anne (23 October 2024). "Edward Berger Elevates Papal Potboiler 'Conclave' Into an Oscar Contender — Here's How". Archived from the original on 23 October 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  28. ^ Ruimy, Jordan (12 October 2024). "Edward Berger's 'The Bourne Dilemma' to Star Matt Damon". World of Reel. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  29. ^ Moran, Edward (13 October 2024). "Edward Berger Will Reportedly Direct New 'Bourne' Film with Matt Damon". Cinema Daily US. Archived from the original on 20 October 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  30. ^ Hermanns, Grant (26 October 2024). "Bourne 6 Reports Get Uncertain Update From Director 11 Months After Matt Damon Sequel Announcement". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  31. ^ Kroll, Justin; Grobar, Matt (29 November 2024). "20th Century Wins Pre-Holiday Bidding War For Edward Berger & Austin Butler's Time Travel Film 'The Barrier' Based On MacMillan Hedges Short Story". Deadline. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024.
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin; Fleming, Mike (26 February 2025). "Amazon, UA, Scott Stuber To Land Evan Gershkovich Film; 'Conclave' Helmer Edward Berger To Tell Story Of WSJ Reporter Who Spent Year In Russian Prison". Deadline. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025.
  33. ^ Kroll, Justin (28 April 2025). "Brad Pitt & Edward Berger Team On 'The Riders' From Scott Free As A24 Boards To Distribute And Finance". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  34. ^ "Oscar-winning Polish director to tell Thomas Mann's story in new film - English Section". www.polskieradio.pl. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  35. ^ Dams, Tim. "Lukas Dhont, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ryusuke Hamaguchi projects among €10.7m Eurimages funding recipients". Screen. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Łukasz Żal to DP Pawel Pawlikowski's 'Fatherland'— Shooting This Summer". World of Reel. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Nele Mueller Stöfen with Husband Edward Berger Opening the 70 Berlinale with the Opening film..." IMAGO. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025. ...My Salinger Year, Opening of The 70th Berlinale on 20 February 2020 at Berlinale Palace in Berlin
  38. ^ Ntim, Zac (19 August 2025). "Paweł Pawlikowski Begins Production On '1949' Starring Sandra Hüller". Deadline. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  39. ^ "Oscars 2023 Winners: Full List of the 95th Academy Awards Winners!". ABC News. Disney Entertainment. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  40. ^ "BAFTA Film Awards: 'The Power Of The Dog' Named Best Film; 'Dune' Leads With Five Wins And Dominates Crafts – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  41. ^ "Baftas 2025: the red carpet, the ceremony, the winners – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  42. ^ "Berlin Film Festival Completes Competition Lineup". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  43. ^ Feinberg, Scott (3 January 2025). "Capri Hollywood International Film Fest: 'Emilia Pérez' Awarded Six Honors, Including Best Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 3 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  44. ^ "Critics Choice Awards 2025: See The Full Winners List". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  45. ^ "DGA Awards: Sean Baker Takes Top Honor for 'Anora': Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony honoring film and TV directors from Los Angeles' Beverly Hilton". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  46. ^ "2018 Emmys: The complete list of winners and nominees. 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' win big". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  47. ^ "Who won Golden Globes for 2025? See the full winners list here". CBS News. Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  48. ^ "10 Europeans to Watch in 2017". Variety. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  49. ^ "ZFF Gäste: Diese Stars besuchten uns 2024 in Zürich". Zurich Film Festival. 14 January 2025. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edward_Berger&oldid=1316831486"