Mira Thiel

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER

Mira Thiel, born in Munich to a Bulgarian general practitioner and a German oncologist and hematologist, completed her high school diploma before working as a music video director, creating over 50 music videos for international artists such as Heather Nova, Apocalyptica, and Glashaus. In addition to directing, she also worked as a cinematographer and editor. A brief stint in advertising left her unsatisfied, prompting her to apply to the dffb (German Film and Television Academy Berlin), where she studied film directing.

Her instructors at the dffb included notable figures such as Sophie Maintigneux, Michael Ballhaus and Béla Tarr. During her studies, she assisted Professor Dieter Berner in the Camera Acting course at the HFF (University of Film and Television). She also was a guest student in Dramaturgy under Prof. Rabenalt and completed the workshop ‚The Audience Contract‘ with Ronald Zarg. Additionally, she took acting lessons with Jens Roth to further refine her skills in directing actors. Her student short films were screened at numerous festivals, including Filmfest München, Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Interfilm Berlin, Kinofest Lünen, Bamberger Kurzfilmtage, and Sehsüchte Festival. In addition to her interest in fictional material, she also explored documentary subjects. She soon blended both forms and received a Silver Medal at the New York Film Festival for her first documentary feature film „My Dream of Olympia – The Nazi Games of 1936“. Since then, she has worked as a director and screenwriter in the genres of comedy, crime, and historical drama. Her works have been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Michael Ballhaus Prize, the Jupiter Award, and the Grimme Prize.

Mira Thiel works voluntarily on the board of the Bundesverband Regie and is a member of Pro Quote.