Born in Hilden, Germany, in 1960, Christian Petzold is one of Germany’s leading cinematic masters. After studying German literature and theater at the Free University of Berlin, he devoted himself to filmmaking, going on to studying film directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB) from 1988 to 1994. Beginning with his feature debut The State I Am In (2001), he has built a body of work that delicately explores the boundaries between everyday life and history, individual and society. His subsequent films Something to Remind Me (2002) and Ghosts (2005) demonstrated his cinematic prowess and garnered critical attention both domestically and internationally. He solidified his international reputation when Barbara (2012) won him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. He has continued to produce exceptional work, with Phoenix (2014) and Transit (2018) exploring in depth the inner lives of characters against historical backdrops, earning him numerous awards at prestigious international film festivals, including Berlin, San Sebastian, and Hong Kong. Undine (2020) won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at Berlin for capturing the delicate emotions of its female protagonist. In 2023, Afire premiered at Berlin and received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. His latest film Mirrors No. 3 has been invited to Directors’ Fortnight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.