Filmmaker Bio

VEIT HELMER, Director

Born in 1968, Veit Helmer is a director, writer and producer. He shot his first film at the age of 14, later beginning formal studies at the Munich Film School, where he became known for his offbeat short films. In 1995 he co-wrote the feature film A Trick of Light and acted as assistant director to Wim Wenders. The film went on to premier in Venice in 1997. His first feature film Tuvalu became a runaway success, and was invited to 62 film festivals including San Sebastian, London, Berlin and Karlovy Vary and was honored with an impressive array of 30 awards, both national and international. His second feature-film, Gate to Heaven (2003) also had a substantial international impact.

A member of the European Film Academy, Veit Helmer gives lectures on filmmaking throughout the world, including film schools in Beirut, Tbilissi, Djakarta, Tashkent and Bogotà.