Gerd Kroske, born in Dessau / East Germany. Trained in the construction industry before moving into cultural work with young people and studying cultural sciences at Berlin’s Humboldt University and directing at HFF “Konrad Wolf“ film-school, Potsdam-Babelsberg. Author and dramatic advisor at the DEFA documentary film studios [1987-1991]. Collaboration with directors Jürgen Böttcher, Petra Tschörtner (†) and Volker Koepp and Thomas Heise. Director since the fall of 1989. Freelance writer and director since 1991. Various selection committees and educational activities for film, mainly at universities. Retrospective “Deutschlandbilder-Filme Gerd Kroske” at the Austrian Film Museum January/February 2020. Producer realistfilm since 1996.
Selection: Own documentaries [director / author]
SPK Complex (SPK Komplex)
2018, Farbe, 2K DCP, 111 Min.
Buch/Regie: Gerd Kroske | Kamera: Susanne Schüle / Anne Misselwitz | editor: Olaf Voigtländer / Stephan Krumbiegel | Ton: Johannes Schmelzer-Ziringer / Benedikt Gaussling / Malte Audick | Dramaturgie: Antje Stamer | Regieassistenz/AL: Lisa M. Böttcher | Kameraassistenz: Helge Haack | Produktionsleitung: Fritz Hartthaler | Redaktion: Rolf Bergmann (rbb) Produktion: realistfilm | Ko-Produktion: rbb | Unterstützt durch: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Deutscher Filmförderfonds| Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Verleih: Salzgeber & Co.;
Awards:
2018 “Clara Serini Award” –Best psychiatry theme documentary– für »SPK COMPLEX«
Concrete End Point (GRENZPUNKT BETON)
2015, Color, Full-HD – DCP, 20 Min. Kurzfilm DoP: Anne Misselwitz, Börres Weiffenbach, Gerd Kroske |editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | P: realistfilm
Drawing A Line (STRICHE ziehen.)
2012-2014, color, Full HD-Faz 35 mm u. DCP, 90 Min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Anne Misselwitz | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Marc Meusinger, Sylvia Grabe | script consultant: Antje Stamer | assistant director and unit manager: Lisa M. Böttcher | first assistant camera: Helge Haack | commissioning editor: Katja Wildermuth (MDR), Rolf Bergmann (rbb) | production: realistfilm | co-production: MDR and rbb (public TV) | Support: Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, BKM, DFFF | distribution: Salzgeber & Co.
Awards:
“ARD Programm Grant 2019” for »Striche ziehen./ Drawing a Line«
Nomination »Grimme Prize« 2018 with »Striche ziehen./ Drawing a Line«
»Audience Award« 38. Duisburger Filmwoche with »Striche ziehen./ Drawing a Line«
HEINO JAEGER – LOOK BEFORE YOU KUCK
2012, color/ black & white, Full HD – Faz 35 mm u. DCP, 120 Min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Susanne Schüle | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Jonas Hummel, Paul Etscheit | music: Klaus Janek | script consultant: Antje Stamer | assistant director and unit manager: Lisa M. Böttcher | unit manager: Andrei Schwartz | first assistant camera: Helge Haack | production: realistfilm | support: BKM, DFFF, Filmförderung Hamburg-Schleswig-Holstein, Filmwerkstatt Kiel, Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg, Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | distribution: Salzgeber & Co. / deckert-distribution GmbH.
Awards:
DOK-Leipzig 2012: »Golden Dove«
17. Filmfest Schleswig-Holstein “Augenweide”: »Film Award 2013«)
Nominated »51. Grimme Preis«, Marl 2015
BOUNDS (SCHRANKEN)
2009, color/ black & white, Full HD, 95 min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Susanne Schüle | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Katrin Moll | sound and und first assistant camera: Helge Haack | music: Klaus Janek | script consultant: Antje Stamer | unit manager: Lisa M. Böttcher | commissioning editor: Nicole Baum | production: realistfilm Gerd Kroske | co-production: ZDF/3sat (public TV) | support: Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | distribution: realistfilm.
WOLLI IN PARADISE (WOLLIS PARADIES)
2005–2007, color, DV, 60 Min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Susanne Schüle | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | production management and sound: Fritz Hartthaler | music: Klaus Janek | production: realistfilm | support: Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | distribution: deckert-distribution GmbH / realistfilm.
Awards:
Cinéma du reél, Paris 2008: HONORABLE MENTIONS
SWEEP IT UP, AGAIN (KEHRAUS, WIEDER)
2006, color/ black & white, IMX – Faz 35 mm, 100 Min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | Dop: Dieter Chill | co-author / assistant director: Manuela Martinson | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Jens Pfuhler | music: Klaus Janek | production management: Fritz Hartthaler | first assistant camera: Helge Haack | commissioning editor: Beate Schönfeldt (MDR), Katja Wildermuth (MDR), public TV | production: realistfilm | co-production: MDR (public TV) | support: Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung | distribution:deckert-distribution, realistfilm.
THE HOUR OAK (DIE STUNDENEICHE)
2006, color, DV, 60 Min., German
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Gerd Kroske, Dieter Chill | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Michaela Wiebusch | commissioning editor: Birgit Mehler | production: realistfilm | co-production: Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb), public TV | distribution: realistfilm.
HIGHWAY EAST (AUTOBAHN OST)
2003/2004, color/ black & white, IMX – FAZ 35 mm, 90 min., original German version
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Dieter Chill | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Uve Haußig, Bernd von Bassewitz | specialist counseling: Axel Doßmann | music: Klaus Janek | production management: Fritz Hartthaler | first assistant camera: Florian Wimmer, Helge Haack | production: Leykauf – Film München | co-production: WDR (commissioning editor: Werner Dütsch), MDR (commissioning editor: Katja Wildermuth, Beate Schönfeldt), public TV | support: Mediaprogramms und gefördert von Medienboard Berlin/ Brandenburg und Mitteldeutscher Filmförderung | distribution: realfiction-Köln.
THE BOXING PRINCE (DER BOXPRINZ)
1999/2000, color/ black & white, 35 mm, 97 Min., original version with German and English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Susanne Schüle | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Bernhard Albrecht | production management: Fritz Hartthaler | first assistant camera: Helge Haack | commissioning editor: Werner Dütsch (WDR) | production: realistfilm | co-production: WDR, SR, SWR (public TV) | support: Filmförderung Hamburg, MFG Baden-Württemberg, Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Filmbüro NW | distribution: realistfilm.
Awards:
International Festival du Cinema Documentaire “Visions du reel”, Nyon/Switzerland 2000: “Prix du long métrage”
Nominated for the “Baden-Württembergischer Dokumentarfilmpreis” 2003
GALERA
1996/97, color, Super 16 mm – blow up 35 mm, 101 Min., several languages with German and English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Dieter Chill | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Uve Haußig, Patrick Moritz | commissioning editor: Werner Dütsch (WDR) | production: D.U.R.A.N. Film, Caligari Films Paris | co-production: La Sept/arte, WDR (public TV) | support: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Filmstiftung NRW | distribution: realistfilm.
Awards:
”Lobby Filmfest” Frankfurt a. Main, D 1997: Audience award
Festival Int. de Cine Independiente de Barcelona/Spain 1997: “Grand Prix”
SWEEP IT UP, SWIG IT DOWN (KEHREIN, KEHRAUS)
1997, color/ black & white, Super 16 blow up 35 mm, 70 min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Dieter Chill | co-author/ assistant director: Manuela Martinson | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | sound: Uve Haußig | music: Todenhöfer & Mettel | commissioning editor: Brigitta Lange (3sat, public TV) | production: realistfilm Gerd Kroske | co-production: ZDF/3sat (public TV) | support: Kulturelle Filmförderung Sachsen, Stiftung Kulturfonds Berlin | distribution: realistfilm.
Awards:
Yamagata International Filmfestival / Japan 1999: “Runner Up Prize” from the international jury
TERMINUS BREST (VOKZAL – BAHNHOF BREST)
1993/94, black & white, 35 mm, 91 min., several languages with German and English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Dieter Chill | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning | gaffer: Wolfgang Hirschke | sound: Uve Haußig | production management: Bronislawa Litmanova Loban | first assistant camera: Michael Loewenberg | commissioning editor: Werner Dütsch | production: Ö-Film Katrin Schlösser, Frank Löprich | co-production: WDR | support: Kulturelle Filmförderung Brandenburg, Filmförderung des BMI, Kulturelle Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | distribution: Deutsche Kinemathek
Awards:
17. International Film Festival “Cinema du reel”, Paris/France 1995 “Grand Prix de Cinéma du reel”
VI. Encontros internacionais de Cinema, Lisbon/Portugal 1995: “Prix Menção Honrosa”
1995 nominated for the German Camera Award (“Deutscher Kamerapreis”)
SHORT CIRCUIT (KURZSCHLUSS)
Episode from the movie “NEUES DEUTSCHLAND”
1993, black & white, 35 mm, 17 min., original German version
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | actors: Daniel Graf, Steffen Schult, Helmut Kohl | DoP: Sebastian Richter | editor: Inge Marszallek | commissioning editor: Gebhard Henke | production: Sabine Lenkeit, Dokfilmgesellschaft für Film-Video und Fernsehproduktionen mbH | co-production: colon-Film Köln, WDR (public TV) | distribution: Filmverlag der Autoren/ DEFA-Stiftung, Kinowelt, Filmverlag der Autoren
KURT – YOU SHALL LAUGH (KURT – ODER DU SOLLST LACHEN)
1991, color/ black & white, 16 mm, 30 min., original German version
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Michael Schaufert | editor: Ingeborg Marszallek | sound: Gerd Kroske | production: Sabine Lenkheit, DEFA-Studio für Dokumentarfilme GmbH | distribution: DEFA-Stiftung.
SWEEPING (KEHRAUS)
1990, black & white, 35 mm, 28 min., German with English subtitles
Director/author: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Sebastian Richter | editor: Angelika Arnold | sound: Ernst Heiles | music: Thorsten Ratheischak | Co-script: Manuela Martinson | production: Katrin Schlösser, Peter Planitzer, DEFA-Studio für Dokumentarfilme GmbH | distribution: DEFA-Stiftung.
Awards:
33. Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival Leipzig 1990: Special award from the international jury and Leipzig’s mayor.
LA VILLETTE
1990, color/ black & white, 35 mm, 52 min., German with English subtitles
Director: Gerd Kroske | DoP: Thomas Plenert | editor: Sieglinde Kruschke | production manager: Stefan Röder | sound: Ronald Gohlke | first assistant camera: Michael Loewenberg | production: DEFA-Studio für Dokumentarfilme (Berlin/GDR) | distribution: DEFA-Stiftung, Defa Library UMASS, Amherst, USA
LEIPZIG IN THE FALL (LEIPZIG IM HERBST)
1989, black & white, 35 mm, 50 min., German with English subtitles
Director: G. Kroske/A. Voigt/S. Richter | DoP: Sebastian Richter | editor: Karin Gerda Schöning, Manuela Bothe | sound: Uve Haußig, Ulrich Fengler, Dieter Maurer | production manager: Roland Gernhard, Stefan Röder | production: DEFA-Dokumentarfilmstudio | distribution: DEFA-Stiftung and Defa Library UMASS, Amherst, USA
Awards:
32. Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival Leipzig 1989
“Taube ’89”, award international jury for “LEIPZIG im HERBST”.
CASSIBER
1989, color/ black & white, Umatic, 30 min.,original German version
Director and DoP: Kroske / Kuttner / Baumgärtner / Persch | production: Akademie der Künste ,GDR.
Film awards and scholarships/grants:
| 2019 | “ARD Programm Grant 2019” for »Striche ziehen / Drawing A Line « |
| 2018 | “Clara Serini Award” –Best psychiatry theme documentary– für »SPK COMPLEX« |
| 2018 | Nominated »54. Grimme Preis« for »Striche ziehen / Drawing A Line « |
| 2015 | Nominated »51. Grimme Preis« for »HEINO JAEGER-look before you kuck « |
| 2014 | Grant Artist-in-Residence “Berlin-Tel Aviv 3 Months 24/7” Israel Filmfund |
| 2014 | »Audience Award« 38. Duisburger Filmwoche für » Striche ziehen./ Drawing a Line« |
| 2013 | »Filmprice Augenweide«(ex aequo) , 17. Filmfest Augenweide, Schleswig-Holstein for “HEINO JAEGER-look before you kuck” |
| 2012 | »Goldene Taube« (Golden Dove) DOK-Leipzig for “HEINO JAEGER-look before you kuck” |
| 2010 | Grant from DEFA-Stiftung »Cinema & Writers Grant« |
| 2009 | »Preis zur Förderung der Deutschen Filmkunst« (ex aequo), DEFA-Stiftung |
| 2008 | »Prix Honorable Mentions« international jury Cinema du réel, Paris for “WOLLI in PARADISE” |
| 2005 | Grant from DEFA-Stiftung »Cinema & Writers Grant« |
| 2003 | Nominated »Baden-Württembergischer Dokumentarfilmpreis« for “THE BOXING PRINCE” |
| 2001 | Grant Stiftung Kulturfonds for »Cinema & Writers Grant« |
| 2000 | International Festival du Cinema Documentaire “Visions du reel”, Nyon/Switzerland »Prix du Longmetrage« for “THE BOXING PRINCE” |
| 1999 | Yamagata International Filmfestival /Japan »Runner Up Prize« from the international jury for “SWEEP IT UP; SWIG IT DOWN” |
| 1997 | IV. Festival Int. de Cine Independiente de Barcelona/Spain »Grand Prix« in documentary competition; ex-aequo for “GALERA” |
| 1997 | Lobby Filmfest Frankfurt a. Main »Audience Award« for “GALERA” |
| 1995 | Nominated »German Camera Award« for “TERMINUS BREST” |
| 1995 | VI. Encontros internacionais de Cinema, Lisbon/Portugal »Prix Menção Honrosa« für ““TERMINUS BREST” |
| 1995 | 17. International Film Festival “Cinema du reel”, Paris/ France »Grand Prix de Cinéma du reel« for “VOKZAL-BAHNHOF BREST” |
| 1990 | 33. Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival Leipzig »Special award from the international jury and Leipzig’s mayor« for “SWEEP IT UP”. |
| 1989 | 32. Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival Leipzig »Taube ’89«, Award from the international jury for “LEIPZIG in FALL ” |
Participation at national and international film festival competitions:
Leipziger Dokumentarfilmwoche / Dok Leipzig, D — International Filmfestival Amsterdam, NL— Visions du réel, Nyon, CH — Yamagata International Documentary Filmfestival, JP — Cinéma du réel Paris, FR — Festival Internacional de Cinema Independent Barcelona, SPA — Encontros Internacionais de Cinema Documental, Lisbon, PG — Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, D — Alpe Adria Cinema, Triest, IT — Internationales Filmfest Rotterdam, NL — Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin-Panorama-, D — International Filmfestival St. Petersburg, RU — Internationales Film Festival Locarno, CH — Drambuie Edinburgh Film Festival, UK — Cork Film Festival, IR — Festival Int. du Cinéma Documentaire “Vue sur les Docs“, Marsaille, FR — Festival on Science, Society and Development, Thiruvananthapuram, IN — Los Angeles International Filmfestival, USA — Settimana Internazionale della Critica, Venedig, IT — Internationales Filmfest München, D — Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München, D — dokumentarfilmwoche Hamburg, D — Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, D – —Scan-Balticum Festival, Bornholm, DK — Festival du Film Strasbourg, FR — Duisburger Filmwoche, D —Kasseler Dokumentarfilm – und Videofest, D — Viennale, International Filmfestival Vienna, AU — Festival Internacional de Cine Deportivo, Santander, SPA — États géneraux du film documentaire Lussas, FR — International Festival of Documentary, Alba, IT — RECINE “Revolutions in the second part of the XX. Century”, Rio de Janeiro, BR