Axel Koenzen is a filmmaker, photographer and story editor based in Berlin. He studied
photography at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York and film
directing at the German Film and Television Academy (DFFB) in Berlin. Having worked for
companies such as Ridley Scott & Associates and Columbia Tristar in Los Angeles, Axel Koenzen has a wide range of professional experience in the fields of film
production, in-depth research and content development. His short films Wax and Wane
(1999) and Firn (2006) were selected for the Cinéfondation section of the International
Film Festival in Cannes. His first feature film Deadweight (2016) premiered in the Forum
section of the 66th International Film Festival Berlin and explores the hard working
conditions in the international shipping industry. Being trained as an image maker and
storyteller, he offers skills in various formats including documentary and
fiction film, photojournalism as well as hybrid storytelling.
Selected Filmography as writer, director, producer:
WAX AND WANE
Short film (15 min), Germany, 1999
16mm Cinemascope, 2.35:1/color
5.1 Dolby SR, Englisch
Festival premiere: Cannes Film Festival
(Cinéfondation)
Aired by NL1, Netherlands, et al.
Short film (15 min), Germany, 1999
16mm Cinemascope, 2.35:1/color
5.1 Dolby SR, Englisch
FIRN
Short film (39 min), Germany, 2006
DV/35mm, 1.66:1/color
5.1 Dolby SR, German
Festival premiere: Cannes Film Festival
(Cinéfondation)
Awards: 1st price, Trento Filmfestival, Italy
Aired by ARTE France, ARTE Germany
Funded by NRW Film & Media Foundation
Short film (39 min), Germany, 2006
DV/35mm, 1.66:1/color
5.1 Dolby SR, German
DRANG (Ruanda-part)
Documentary (56 min), Germany, 2009
1,78:1/color, 5.1 Dolby SR, German
Awards: Art Director’s Club, 2010 (gold medal)
Aired as advertisment on public broadcasting in
Germany, nationwide
Documentary (56 min), Germany, 2009
1,78:1/color, 5.1 Dolby SR, German
DEADWEIGHT
Feature film (88 min), Germany/Finland, 2016
1.85:1/color, 7.1 Dolby SR
English, Tagalog, Dutch, Finnish
Festival premiere: International Film Festival Berlin
(Forum)
Awards: Wild Dreamer, 9th Subversive Film Festival
Aired by ARTE France/Germany, WDR, YLE
Funded by ARTE/WDR, MBB, MDM, FFHSH,
FNDN, BKM, SES
Feature film (88 min), Germany/Finland, 2016
1.85:1/color, 7.1 Dolby SR
English, Tagalog, Dutch, Finnish
PATARA
Documentary (72 min), Germany/Turkey, 2016
1:1,78/color, 5.1 Dolby SR
Turkish, English, Kurdish
Festival premiere: Kassel Dokfest, Germany
Funded by MBB (German-Turkish Co-Production
Development Fond)
Documentary (72 min), Germany/Turkey, 2016
1:1,78/color, 5.1 Dolby SR
Turkish, English, Kurdish
MOZAMBIQUE, where the Mango tree used to be
Documentary (27 min), Germany/Mozambique, 2019
1,78:1/color, 5.1 Dolby SR
Portugese, local dialects
Festival premiere: Life after Oil (Sardinia)
Prices: Life after Oil (special mention)
Funded by Oxfam/COSACA
Documentary (27 min), Germany/Mozambique, 2019
1,78:1/color, 5.1 Dolby SR
Portugese, local dialects
Currently in development:
THE BLOOD OF THE WALSUNGS
Feature film (120 min), Germany/Israel
(after a novella by Thomas Mann)
Feature film (120 min), Germany/Israel
(after a novella by Thomas Mann)
GIFT
Feature film (90 min), Germany/France
(co-written by Geoffroy Grison)
Feature film (90 min), Germany/France
(co-written by Geoffroy Grison)
THE CAVE
2-channel video installation (15 min),
Germany/Philippines
2-channel video installation (15 min), Germany/Philippines