Werner Penzel

Werner Penzel (* 1950 in Heidelberg ) is a German director and documentary filmmaker .

Life

Penzel studied at the HFF Munich . In the 1970s he worked with the theater groups Oficina in Rio de Janeiro and Living Theater in Europe. He traveled through North Africa, India and Japan, where he spent some time in the Zen monasteries Eihei-ji and Antai-ji .

In 1987 he founded the film production company CineNomad with Nicolas Humbert , from which the "celluloid improvisation" Step Across the Border on the music of Fred Frith (1990, special mention at the European Film Awards in Glasgow in the same year ) and that of the directors "Cinepoem" Kinowerk Middle of the Moment (1995) - also with music by Fred Frith - originate. In 2016 his documentary Zen for Nothing with Sabine Timoteo premiered and was awarded the Bern Film Prize in the documentary category. Penzel is married to the Japanese photographer and documentary film director Ayako Mogi.

Filmography

• 1969: Heibfest
• 1971: Nelli's shop
• 1972: hot air
• 1973: Haiku
• 1974: Tamfez
• 1974: Umbanda Magic Theater
• 1975: Bread & Circus
• 1976: Babaji & Dokri Maa
• 1979: Vagabond Caravan (with embryo )
• 1981: Heartbeat (your head is a sleeping car)
• 1982: Krampus
• 1983: Pirates of Silence
• 1984: Die at the feet of the brothers
• 1986: Farewell to hatred
• 1988: Lani and his family
• 1987–1990: Step Across the Border
• 1990-1995: Middle of the Moment
• 1993-1999: Three Windows
• 1997: zero sun. No point
• 1999: One last Glimpse
• 1999: Why Should I Buy a Bed When All That I Want Is Sleep
• 2004: Brother Yusef
• 2016: Zen for Nothing

Web links

• Werner Penzel in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• CineNomad film production website
• Zen for Nothing official website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Step across the Border at cinenomad.de
2. ↑ Middle of the Moment at looknow.ch