Oliver Paulus

Oliver Paulus (born 1969 in Dornach, Canton of Solothurn) is a Swiss film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor, known for films such as Tandoori Love (2008) and Vielen Dank für Nichts (2013).[1][2]

Life and career

Oliver Paulus attended the Schule für Gestaltung Basel from 1989 to 1992. He subsequently completed internships and worked as an assistant director in Basel, Zürich, Cologne, and Düsseldorf. From 1994 to 1998, he studied directing and screenwriting at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg.[1]

From the mid-1990s onward, Paulus directed several short films. His short film His Mother's Voice received the award for Best Short Film at the Max Ophüls Preis in 1995. In 1997, he was awarded the Werkjahrespreis of the Canton of Solothurn. His short film Die Wurstverkäuferin was nominated for the Swiss Film Award in 2002 and received the Audience Award at the International Short Film Festival Hamburg in 2001.[2][3]

Paulus made his feature film debut in 2003 together with Stefan Hillebrand with the romantic comedy Wenn der Richtige kommt.[2][4] In the following years, he continued to collaborate with Hillebrand on films including Wir werden uns wiederseh'n (2006), Tandoori Love (2008), Vielen Dank für Nichts (2013), Making a Change (2018), and Level Up Your Life (2018).[1][5]

In 2008, Paulus directed Tandoori Love, a Swiss-Austrian-German comedy with Bollywood elements. The film received the award for Best Artistic Contribution at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2008. In 2009, Marcel Vaid won the Prix SUISA at the Locarno Film Festival for the film's music.[6] Critics described the film as a culture-clash comedy combining Swiss Alpine settings with Bollywood motifs.[7][8][9]

Vielen Dank für Nichts had its world premiere in 2013. In 2014, it won the Premio Giuria Fuori le Mura and the Castello d'Argento at the Castellinaria Festival internazionale del cinema giovane in Bellinzona.[10][11] Critics described the film as an underdog comedy dealing with disability.[12][13][14]

Bernadette will töten premiered in January 2025. Paulus co-directed the Swiss-Austrian-Polish production with Robert Herzl and was also involved as a producer.[15][16]

Selected filmography

  • 1995: His Mother's Voice (director)
  • 2001: Die Wurstverkäuferin (director)
  • 2003: Wenn der Richtige kommt (co-director, with Stefan Hillebrand)
  • 2006: Wir werden uns wiederseh'n (co-director)
  • 2008: Tandoori Love (co-director)
  • 2013: Vielen Dank für Nichts (co-director)
  • 2018: Making a Change (co-director)
  • 2018: Level Up Your Life (co-director)
  • 2025: Bernadette will töten (co-director)

Awards and nominations

  • 1995: Best Short Film at the Max Ophüls Preis for His Mother's Voice
  • 1997: Werkjahrespreis of the Canton of Solothurn
  • 2001: Audience Award at the International Short Film Festival Hamburg for Die Wurstverkäuferin
  • 2002: Nomination for the Swiss Film Award for Die Wurstverkäuferin
  • 2008: Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Cairo International Film Festival for Tandoori Love
  • 2009: Prix SUISA at the Locarno Film Festival for the music of Tandoori Love
  • 2014: Premio Giuria Fuori le Mura for Vielen Dank für Nichts
  • 2014: Castello d'Argento for Vielen Dank für Nichts

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Oliver Paulus". Swiss Films. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Oliver Paulus". filmportal.de. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Archiv". Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Wenn der Richtige kommt". Kino-Zeit. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Oliver Paulus". ARF/FDS. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Tandoori Love". Swiss Films. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Tandoori Love". Deutschlandfunk Kultur. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Tandoori Love". Filmbulletin. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Tandoori Love". Programmkino.de. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Vielen Dank für Nichts". Swiss Films. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Festival del cinema giovane – Bellinzona". Castellinaria. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Vielen Dank für Nichts". Kino-Zeit. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Vielen Dank für Nichts". epd Film. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Vielen Dank für Nichts". Filmdienst. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bernadette will töten". Swiss Films. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Manöverkritik 60. Solothurner Filmtage". arttv.ch. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.