Benjamin Herrmann
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Herrmann is a German
film producer
and distributor
.
. After graduating with his award-winning short film Der große Lacher (The Big Laugh) in 1997, he headed private broadcaster ProSieben’s production department, where he executive produced over 40 TV movies and feature films, including Germany’s most successful film of all times, Der Schuh des Manitu
(Manitou's Shoe).
From 2000 to 2006 he was managing director of Germany’s mini-major Senator’s production and distribution outfits. There, he produced and distributed commercially successful and critically acclaimed films like Das Experiment
, Das Wunder von Bern (The Miracle of Bern) and Academy Award-nominee Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas). His distribution projects further included Ridley Scott
’s Black Hawk Down, Lasse Hallström
’s Chocolat, Jonathan Glazer
’s Sexy Beast
and Alejandro Amenábar
’s The Others
.
In 2006 he set up his own production and distribution company, Majestic
. His first projects were already highly successful: Doris Dörrie
’s box office hit Kirschblüten - Hanami
(Cherry Blossoms), Philipp Stölzl’s mountain drama Nordwand
(North Face), Sherry Hormann’s adaptation of Waris Dirie
’s best-selling novel Desert Flower
and Academy Award-winner Florian Gallenberger
’s John Rabe
.
For John Rabe
Benjamin Herrmann was awarded with the German Academy Award
as well as the Bavarian Film Award
for Best Picture.
Nominated
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and distributor
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
.
Career
Benjamin Herrmann studied Directing at the Munich Academy for Film and TelevisionUniversity of Television and Film Munich
The University of Television and Film Munich is a publicly funded film school in Munich, Germany. The school was established in 1966 by decree of the Bavarian government. The University of Television and Film Munich is one of Germany's most reputable film schools with about 350 students enrolled...
. After graduating with his award-winning short film Der große Lacher (The Big Laugh) in 1997, he headed private broadcaster ProSieben’s production department, where he executive produced over 40 TV movies and feature films, including Germany’s most successful film of all times, Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu is a 2001 German parody of western films. Directed by Michael Herbig, it is a film adaptation of the Winnetou sketches from his Pro Sieben television show Bullyparade.-Background:...
(Manitou's Shoe).
From 2000 to 2006 he was managing director of Germany’s mini-major Senator’s production and distribution outfits. There, he produced and distributed commercially successful and critically acclaimed films like Das Experiment
Das Experiment
Das Experiment is a 2001 German film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, about a social experiment, based on Mario Giordano's novel Black Box, which resembles Philip Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment of 1971.-Plot:...
, Das Wunder von Bern (The Miracle of Bern) and Academy Award-nominee Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas). His distribution projects further included Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
’s Black Hawk Down, Lasse Hallström
Lasse Hallström
Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström is a Swedish film director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for My Life as a Dog and later for The Cider House Rules .-Life and career:...
’s Chocolat, Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer is an English director of films, commercials and music videos.-Biography:After studying theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, Glazer started out directing theatre and making film and television trailers, including award-winning work for the BBC...
’s Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast is a 2000 British-Spanish crime drama film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, and Ian McShane. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was Glazer's debut feature film, who had previously been a music video director for videos such as Rabbit in Your Headlights for...
and Alejandro Amenábar
Alejandro Amenábar
Alejandro Fernando Amenábar Cantos is a Spanish- Chilean film director. Amenábar was born in Santiago, Chile to a Spanish mother and Chilean father, but the family moved to Spain just one year after his birth...
’s The Others
The Others (2001 film)
The Others is a 2001 psychological horror film by the Spanish-Chilean director Alejandro Amenábar, starring Nicole Kidman. It is inspired partly by the novella The Turn of the Screw....
.
In 2006 he set up his own production and distribution company, Majestic
Majestic
Majestic is one of the first alternate reality games , a type of game that blurs the line between in-game and out-of-game experiences. It debuted on July 31, 2001...
. His first projects were already highly successful: Doris Dörrie
Doris Dörrie
Doris Dörrie is a German film director, producer and author.-Life and work:Dörrie completed her secondary education at a humanist Gymnasium. In 1973 she began a two-year attendance in film studies, in the drama department of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She then studied...
’s box office hit Kirschblüten - Hanami
Cherry Blossoms (film)
Cherry Blossoms is a 2008 German film directed by Doris Dörrie.-Plot:The story culminates in a pilgrimage to Mount Fuji in the midst of the cherry blossom season, a celebration of beauty, impermanence, and new beginnings....
(Cherry Blossoms), Philipp Stölzl’s mountain drama Nordwand
North Face (film)
North Face is a 2008 German historical fiction film based on a famous 1936 attempt to climb the Eiger north face.-Plot:...
(North Face), Sherry Hormann’s adaptation of Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist.-Early years:Waris Dirie was born into a nomadic clan in Galkacyo, Somalia in 1965. At the age of thirteen, she fled her family in order to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man. She landed in London where she...
’s best-selling novel Desert Flower
Desert Flower
Desert Flower is an autobiographical book published in 1998 about the life of Somali model, Waris Dirie....
and Academy Award-winner Florian Gallenberger
Florian Gallenberger
Florian Gallenberger is a German film director. His film Quiero ser was awarded the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2001.-Career:...
’s John Rabe
John Rabe (film)
John Rabe is a 2009 German-Chinese-French biopictorial film directed by Florian Gallenberger and starring Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi....
.
For John Rabe
John Rabe (film)
John Rabe is a 2009 German-Chinese-French biopictorial film directed by Florian Gallenberger and starring Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi....
Benjamin Herrmann was awarded with the German Academy Award
Deutscher Filmpreis
The Deutscher Filmpreis is the highest German movie award. From 1951 to 2004 it was awarded by a commission, since 2005 the award has been given by the Deutsche Filmakademie...
as well as the Bavarian Film Award
Bayerischer Filmpreis
The Bavarian Film Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the State Government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the German Film Awards, these are the most highly regarded awards for filmmaking achievement in Germany.The Bavarian Film...
for Best Picture.
Awards
Won- 2009 Bavarian Film AwardsBayerischer FilmpreisThe Bavarian Film Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the State Government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the German Film Awards, these are the most highly regarded awards for filmmaking achievement in Germany.The Bavarian Film...
, Best Picture John RabeJohn Rabe (film)John Rabe is a 2009 German-Chinese-French biopictorial film directed by Florian Gallenberger and starring Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi....
- 2009 German Academy AwardsDeutscher FilmpreisThe Deutscher Filmpreis is the highest German movie award. From 1951 to 2004 it was awarded by a commission, since 2005 the award has been given by the Deutsche Filmakademie...
, Best Picture John RabeJohn Rabe (film)John Rabe is a 2009 German-Chinese-French biopictorial film directed by Florian Gallenberger and starring Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi....
- 1998 Studio Hamburg Young Director's Award, Best Short Film Der große Lacher (The Big Laugh)
Nominated
- 2006 Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, Best Foreign Language Film Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)
- 1998 Max Ophüls Award, Best Short Film Der große Lacher (The Big Laugh)
Filmography
The most well-known movies produced by Herrmann include- Der Schuh des ManituDer Schuh des ManituDer Schuh des Manitu is a 2001 German parody of western films. Directed by Michael Herbig, it is a film adaptation of the Winnetou sketches from his Pro Sieben television show Bullyparade.-Background:...
(Manitou's Shoe) (2001) - Das ExperimentDas ExperimentDas Experiment is a 2001 German film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, about a social experiment, based on Mario Giordano's novel Black Box, which resembles Philip Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment of 1971.-Plot:...
(2001) - Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht (If It Don't Fit, Use A Bigger Hammer) (2002)
- Das Wunder von Bern (The Miracle of Bern) (2003)
- Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) (2005)
- Wo ist Fred? (Special) (2006)
- NordwandNorth Face (film)North Face is a 2008 German historical fiction film based on a famous 1936 attempt to climb the Eiger north face.-Plot:...
(North Face) (2008) - John RabeJohn Rabe (film)John Rabe is a 2009 German-Chinese-French biopictorial film directed by Florian Gallenberger and starring Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi....
(2009) - Desert FlowerDesert Flower (film)Desert Flower is a 2009 German biographical film directed by Sherry Horman and starring Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson. It depicts the life of the Somali-born model Waris Dirie.-Cast:* Liya Kebede - Waris Dirie* Sally Hawkins - Marylin...
(2009)