Volker Schlöndorff

Volker Schlöndorff, born on 31st March 1939, is a celebrated German film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his profound contribution to the New German Cinema movement of the late 60s and early 70s. His acclaim reached its zenith with the Oscar and the Palme d'Or win at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival for 'The Tin Drum', an adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass. Born in Wiesbaden, Nazi Germany, Schlöndorff endured the tragic loss of his mother to a fire when he was young. In 1956, his family moved to Paris, where Schlöndorff's journey into films started as an assistant director to Louis Malle. His first feature film debut was 'Young Törless', which firmly positioned Schlöndorff into the New German Cinema movement. Schlöndorff's work often portrayed political themes, mirroring the socio-political environment of the time. This is evident in films like 'The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum', 'Coup de Grâce', and 'The Ninth Day'. Schlöndorff also ventured into English films and Hollywood, making films like 'Swann in Love', 'Death of a Salesman', and 'The Handmaid's Tale'. Beyond his filmography, Schlöndorff has an enduring legacy in saving the historical film studios Babelsberg from destruction. Schlöndorff remains active in the field of cinematic and literary education, presently teaching at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

Schlöndorff married fellow film director Margarethe von Trotta in 1971. With their shared production company Bioskop, they created many notable films. This marriage ended in 1991, after which Schlöndorff married Angelika Gruber, with whom he shares a daughter. Apart from films, Schlöndorff's remarkable contributions have been recognized with several accolades, including the 2019 Commander's cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the 2009 Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Award.