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Edward Berger

{{Short description|Austrian and Swiss filmmaker (born 1970)}}

{{other people}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Edward Berger

| image = Edward Berger at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped).jpg

| caption = Berger in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}}

| birth_place = Wolfsburg, West Germany

| citizenship = Swiss / Austrian

| education = Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig (1991)
Tisch School of the Arts (1994)

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|producer|screenwriter}}

| years_active = 1994–present

| works = {{hlist|Deutschland 83 (2015)|Patrick Melrose (2018)|All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)|Conclave (2024)}}

}}

Edward Berger ({{IPA|de|ˈedvart ˈbɛʁɡɐ|lang}}; born 1970) is a German-born director and screenwriter who holds Swiss and Austrian citizenship. He is known for 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).

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

Early life and education

Edward Berger was born in 1970{{Cite web |title=e-TALENTA |url=https://www.e-talenta.eu/members/profile/edward-berger |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=www.e-talenta.eu}} in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, then West Germany.{{cite web |title=Edward Berger |website=Munzinger Biographie |url=https://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Edward+Berger/0/31803.html%20munzinger.de |language=de |access-date=27 January 2025}} His mother was from Switzerland, and his father, who worked as a logistics manager at Volkswagen, was from Austria.{{cite web | last=Roxborough | first=Scott | title=Zurich Festival to Honor 'Conclave' Director Edward Berger | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=19 September 2024 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zurich-festival-to-honor-edward-berger-conclave-director-1236006637/ | access-date=27 January 2025}} He grew up in a middle-class family with three siblings.

Berger graduated from Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium in Wolfsburg in the late 1980s.{{cite web |title=Tatort: Wolfsburger als Regisseur erfolgreich |url=http://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg/Tatort-Wolfsburger-als-Regisseur-erfolgreich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406040612/http://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg/Tatort-Wolfsburger-als-Regisseur-erfolgreich |archive-date=6 April 2018}} Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, retrieved, 29 April 2015 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.{{cite web|url=http://die-agenten.de/director_vita.php?name=Edward_Berger&gender=m |title=Edward Bergers Profil| website=Die Agenten|first=Joachim |last=Gern|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804203301/http://www.die-agenten.de/director_vita.php?name=Edward_Berger&gender=m |archive-date=4 August 2017 }} bei der Agentur Die Agenten, retrieved, 20 January 2014

He moved to Berlin in 1997.

Berger has both Swiss{{cite web | title=Edward Berger | website=Die Agenten| url=https://die-agenten.de/profile/edward-berger/ | language=de | access-date=29 January 2025}} and Austrian citizenship through his parents.{{Cite news |last=Uslar |first=Moritz von |date=15 March 2023 |title=Edward Berger: "Den deutschen Filmern fehlt oft die Radikalität" |url=https://www.zeit.de/2023/12/edward-berger-im-westen-nichts-neues-vier-oscars-academy-awards/seite-3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240308230723/https://www.zeit.de/2023/12/edward-berger-im-westen-nichts-neues-vier-oscars-academy-awards/komplettansicht |archive-date=8 March 2024 |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070 |quote=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. |trans-quote=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.}}{{Cite web |title=Edward Berger: "Nein, in Deutschland wurde ich in keine Talkshow eingeladen" - WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/kino/plus244206023/Edward-Berger-Nein-in-Deutschland-wurde-ich-in-keine-Talkshow-eingeladen.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230815023448/https://www.welt.de/kultur/kino/plus244206023/Edward-Berger-Nein-in-Deutschland-wurde-ich-in-keine-Talkshow-eingeladen.html |archive-date=15 August 2023 |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=Die Welt |language=de |quote=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.“ |trans-quote=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."}}{{Cite web |title=e-TALENTA |url=https://www.e-talenta.eu/members/profile/edward-berger |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=www.e-talenta.eu}}{{cite web | title=Edward Berger | website=swissfilms | url=https://www.swissfilms.ch/en/person/edward-berger/8212C658244D4126888DD186E703F2E4 | access-date=28 January 2025}}{{cite web | last=Gabelia | first=Alexander | title=FNE Podcast: Edward Berger: Director and Screenwriter | website=FilmNewEurope.com | date=30 August 2024 | url=https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/region/item/126101-fne-podcast-edward-berger-director-and-screenwriter | access-date=30 January 2025}} Includes link to audio. He told Die Welt in 2023 that while he is not German by passport, he supports Germany in international football tournaments. "If Germany plays Switzerland, I'm for Germany", he told Variety.{{cite interview|first=Edward|last=Berger | interviewer-last=Davis | interviewer-first=Clayton | title='All Quiet on the Western Front' Director Edward Berger: 'I Could Never Say I'm Proud to Be German' | website=Variety | date=21 February 2023 | url=https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/edward-berger-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-director-germany-not-proud-1235528133/ | access-date=27 January 2025}} 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".

Career

File:MJK 12711 Edward Berger (The Terror, Berlinale 2018).jpg]]

Berger has worked mostly in Germany and the United States. 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, and Edward Burns. In 1994 he headed the production department of the company. In 1996 he gave a guest lecture at Columbia University film school, and at Universität der Künste Berlin{{cite web |url=http://www.soup-film.de/director/0/55/vita |title=Vita Edward Berger |publisher=Soup Film |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220113/http://www.soup-film.de/director/0/55/vita |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} 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. 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.

In 2008 worked as a screenwriter and director for four episodes of season 2 of television series KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst (KDD – Berlin Crime Squad).{{cite web | title=Villa Aurora Grant Recipients 2015 | website=VATMH | url=https://www.vatmh.org/en/grant-recipient-details/grant/329-edward-berger.html | access-date=29 January 2025}} In 2012, his film {{ill|A Good Summer|de|Ein guter Sommer}} was awarded the Grimme-Preis.

Berger co-wrote the script for his third feature film, Jack with regular collaborator {{ill|Nele Mueller-Stöfen|de}} (also his wife). The film premiered in competition at the 2014 Berlinale,{{cite web | last=Lodge | first=Guy | title=Berlin Film Review: 'Jack' | website=Variety | date=7 February 2014 | url=https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/berlin-film-review-jack-1201091187/ | access-date=1 February 2025}}{{cite web | title=Berlinale: Jack impresses with great performances | website=Cineuropa | date=7 February 2014 | url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/252088/ | access-date=1 February 2025}} 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. 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".{{cite interview|first=Edward|last=Berger | interviewer-first=Patrick | interviewer-last=Heidmann| title=Edward Berger: "All it takes is a good script" | website=The Talks | date=8 March 2023 | url=https://the-talks.com/interview/edward-berger/ | access-date=27 January 2025}}

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. The series won an International Emmy in 2016.

He also directed the limited series Patrick Melrose (2018), starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for which he won his first BAFTA Award, for Best Limited Series.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Berger wrote, directed, and produced All Quiet on the Western Front, released in 2022. 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. At the Oscars, it won Best International Film.{{cite web | last=Pulver | first=Andrew | title=All Quiet on the Western Front wins best international feature film Oscar | website=the Guardian | date=13 March 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/13/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-wins-best-international-feature-film-oscar | access-date=29 January 2025}} 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.{{cite web | last=Oltermann | first=Philip | title=German critics pan Oscar-nominated All Quiet On the Western Front | website=The Guardian | date=27 January 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/27/oscar-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-germany-critics | access-date=29 January 2025}}

His 2024 film Conclave, a drama set in the Holy See based on a novel by Robert Harris, enjoyed great success, both critically and with audiences.{{cite web | title=Conclave | website=Rotten Tomatoes | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/conclave | access-date=29 January 2025}}{{cite web | last=Rubin | first=Rebecca | title=How 'Conclave' Became One of Awards Season's Biggest Indie Box Office Hits | website=Variety | date=18 November 2024 | url=https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/conclave-box-office-success-adult-oscar-films-1236210375/ | access-date=29 January 2025}} 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".

His next film, due to be released in 2025, is The Ballad of a Small Player, with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton.{{cite interview|first=Edward|last=Berger | title='Conclave' Director Edward Berger on How Universal Doubt and the Allure of Power Inspired His Gripping Vatican Thriller | website=Entertainment Voice | date=25 October 2024 | url=https://entertainmentvoice.com/2024/10/25/conclave-director-edward-berger-on-how-universal-doubt-and-the-allure-of-power-inspired-his-gripping-vatican-thriller/ | access-date=27 January 2025|quote=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}}

Berger has been slated to direct the next film in the Bourne franchise (reportedly titled The Bourne Dilemma).{{cite web | last=Ruimy | first=Jordan | title=Edward Berger's 'The Bourne Dilemma' to Star Matt Damon | website=World of Reel | date=12 October 2024 | url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/10/12/edward-bergers-the-bourne-dilemma-to-star-matt-damon | access-date=29 January 2025}}{{cite web | last=Moran | first=Edward | title=Edward Berger Will Reportedly Direct New 'Bourne' Film with Matt Damon | website=Cinema Daily US | date=13 October 2024 | url=https://cinemadailyus.com/news/edward-berger-will-reportedly-direct-new-bourne-film-with-matt-damon/ | access-date=29 January 2025}} 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".{{cite web | last=Hermanns | first=Grant | title=Bourne 6 Reports Get Uncertain Update From Director 11 Months After Matt Damon Sequel Announcement | website=ScreenRant | date=26 October 2024 | url=https://screenrant.com/jason-bourne-6-development-director-edward-berger-update-uncertain/ | access-date=29 January 2025}}

Berger has also directed and produced music videos and artist film portraits.

Personal life

Berger is married to German actress {{ill|Nele Mueller-Stöfen|de}}.{{cite web | title=Nele Mueller Stöfen with Husband Edward Berger Opening the 70 Berlinale with the Opening film...|quote= ...My Salinger Year, Opening of The 70th Berlinale on 20 February 2020 at Berlinale Palace in Berlin | website=IMAGO | url=https://www.imago-images.com/st/0150994802 | access-date=30 January 2025}} Mueller-Stöfen, born in Berlin in 1967, has acted on stage and screen, and is also a screenwriter. She has starred in several of Berger's films, as well as collaborating on the script of Jack.{{cite web | title=Grant Recipient Details | website=VATMH | url=https://www.vatmh.org/en/grant-recipient-details/grant/320-nele-mueller-stoefen.html | access-date=30 January 2025}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Producer

! Notes and refs

2014

| Jack

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|

2019

| All My Loving

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|

2022

| All Quiet on the Western Front

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|

2024

| Conclave

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

|

2025

| The Ballad of a Small Player

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

|

=Television=

TV series

  • 2001, 2002: Schimanski (2 episodes)
  • 2004: Bloch (Episode "Schwestern")
  • 2005, 2006: Unter Verdacht (Wrote 2 episodes, directed 1 episode)
  • 2006: Tatort (Episode "{{Interlanguage link|Das letzte Rennen (Tatort)|de|3=Tatort: Das letzte Rennen|lt=Das letzte Rennen}}")
  • 2008: KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst (Director of 3 episodes and book with 2 episodes)
  • 2010: Polizeiruf 110 (Wrote and directed episode "Aquarius")
  • 2013: Tatort (Episode "{{Interlanguage link|Wer das Schweigen bricht (Tatort)|de|3=Tatort: Wer das Schweigen bricht|lt=Wer das Schweigen bricht}}")
  • 2015: Deutschland 83
  • 2018: The Terror (Episodes 1, 2, 4)
  • 2018: Patrick Melrose
  • 2020: Your Honor

TV movies

  • 1992: Strait-Jacket
  • 1993: Sidewalk Hotel
  • 1994: Schrottplatz Träumereien
  • 1995: Wanderbread
  • 1998: Gomez – Kopf oder Zahl
  • 2001: Female 2 Seeks Happy End
  • 2007: Windland
  • 2011: {{ill|A Good Summer|de|Ein guter Sommer}} (screenwriter and director)
  • 2012: {{Ill|Mom's Gotta Go|de|Mutter muss weg}} (director)

Awards and nominations

=Individual recognition and awards=

  • 2000: Variety – Award "Ten European Directors To Watch", after Female 2 Seeks Happy End
  • 2017: Variety – "Ten European Directors To Watch in 2017"{{cite web | title=10 Europeans to Watch in 2017 | website=Variety | date=31 January 2017 | url=https://variety.com/gallery/10-europeans-to-watch-in-2017/europeans-to-watch/ | access-date=1 February 2025}}
  • 2015: Fellowship for Villa Aurora's artist-in-residence program, along with his wife {{ill|Nele Mueller-Stöfen|de}}
  • 2024: A Tribute to... award at the Zurich Film Festival{{cite web | title=ZFF Gäste: Diese Stars besuchten uns 2024 in Zürich | website=Zurich Film Festival | date=14 January 2025 | url=https://zff.com/en/programm-tickets/zff-gaeste/gaeste-2024 | access-date=30 January 2025}}

=''Jack'' (2014)=

  • 2014: Deutscher Regiepreis Metropolis (German Directors Guild Awards), Best Film and Best Director awards, for Jack{{cite web | title=Berlinale 2019 – Panorama: All My Loving | website=German Films Quarterly| url=https://www.germanfilmsquarterly.de/berlinale_19_5.html|date =2019 | access-date=1 February 2025}}{{cite web | title=Conclave | website=Marrakech International Film Festival | date=25 November 2024 | url=https://marrakech-festival.com/en/films/conclave/ | access-date=1 February 2025}}
  • 2015: Bavarian Film Awards, Best Young Producer, for Jack{{cite web | title=Audi Festival of German Film 2015 | via=Issuu | date=8 April 2015 | url=https://issuu.com/goetheaustralia/docs/afgf2015_minimag_web | access-date=1 February 2025}}
  • 2015: German Film Prize in Silver for the Best Feature Film for Jack (also nominated for Best Direction and Best Screenplay)

=''All Quiet on the Western Front'' (2022) =

{{also|All Quiet on the Western Front (2022 film)#Accolades{{!}}All Quiet on the Western Front (2022 film) § Accolades}}

=''Conclave'' (2024)=

{{also|Conclave (film)#Accolades{{!}}Conclave (film) § Accolades}}

  • 2025: Nominated, Oscars, for Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Film Editing, Production Design
  • 2025: Nominated, BAFTA Awards, Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Casting, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Original Score, Production Design, Sound
  • 2024: Golden Globes, Nominated, Best Motion Picture - Drama
  • 2024: Golden Globes, Nominated, Best Director - Motion Picture

=Other film and TV awards=

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|0074163}}

{{Edward Berger}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Edward Berger

|list =

{{Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film}}

{{BAFTA Award for Best Direction}}

{{BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}

{{National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}

{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}

}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berger, Edward}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Mass media people from Lower Saxony

Category:Best Director BAFTA Award winners

Category:Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award winners

Category:Filmmakers who won the Best Foreign Language Film BAFTA Award

Category:People from Wolfsburg

Category:Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners

Category:Austrian film directors

Category:Swiss film directors

Category:Austrian film people

Category:Austrian filmmakers

Category:Swiss film people

Category:Swiss filmmakers

Category:Austrian people of Swiss descent

Category:Swiss people of Austrian descent