Introduction
Dennis Gansel (born 4 October 1973) is a German film director and screenwriter.
Life and career
Gansel was born in 1973 in Hannover, where he graduated from high school in 1993. Gansel worked in the festivals for film and television and chose to dedicate his compulsory service to helping disabled people. During this time, he prepared himself for film school. He studied at University of Television and Film Munich for 5 years. Gansel is best known for directing The Wave and his following project; the vampire film We Are The Night, which starred Karoline Herfurth, Nina Hoss, Jennifer Ulrich, Anna Fischer and Max Riemelt.
Other than directing, Gansel has also tried acting. He has had several small roles in his own movies as wells as others.
Gansel frequently casts Max Riemelt in his films and frequently works with editor Jochen Retter and composer/musician Heiko Maile. His favourite director is Sydney Pollack.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Wrong Trip | Director, Short | |
| 1997 | Living Dead | Short | |
| 1998 | Im Auftrag des Herrn | Ben | Short |
| 2000 | Das Phantom | Director, TV Movie | |
| 2001 | Mädchen, Mädchen | Mailman | Director, also actor |
| 2004 | Before the Fall | Boxing Trainer | Director, also actor |
| 2007 | Neues vom Wixxer | Singender Bobby 1 | |
| 2008 | The Wave | Hängengebliebener | Director, also actor |
| 2009 | Men in the City | Lars | |
| 2010 | We Are the Night | Director | |
| 2011 | 205 – Room of Fear | Psychiatrist | |
| 2012 | The Fourth State | Taxi Driver | Director, also actor (uncredited) |
| 2016 | Mechanic: Resurrection | Director | |
| 2018 | Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver | Director | |
| 2019 | Berlin, I Love You | Director, (segment Embassy) | |
| 2020 | Jim Button and the Wild 13 | Director | |
| 2025 | Fatherland | Director | |
| 2025 | Der Tiger | Director |
German Awards
- F.W. Murnau Kurzfilmpreis for The Wrong Trip
- F.W. Murnau Kurzfilmpreis for Living Dead
- Adolf-Grimme-Preis 2001 for Das Phantom
- Bundesfilmpreis 2003 best unpicturized script for Before the Fall
- Bayerischer Filmpreis 2005 for Before the Fall
- Deutscher Filmpreis LOLA Bronze for The Wave
- Sitges – Special Prize of the Jury for We Are The Night