Copyright LILIE AUVRAY
As the grandson of a film producer couple, my path into the world of filmmaking was shaped from an early age. In 2002, I began an internship working on a documentary about the Amazon region in Brazil. I was allowed to contribute my own footage using a Mini DV camera, and that was when my passion for filmmaking was ignited. In my youthful enthusiasm, I believed I could enter film school immediately after graduating from high school. Remarkably, that’s exactly what happened, although, in hindsight, I realize I wasn’t yet mature enough to fully harness the potential of this opportunity.
This uncertainty was evident during my first three years at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, where I struggled to gain sufficient practical experience. At the same time, this period became a crucial phase of orientation and connection: I met director and writer Burhan Qurbani. With his short film Illusion, we achieved a breakthrough in 2008, winning the German Camera Award. This success paved the way for our diploma feature film debut, Shahada, which earned the First Steps Camera Award in 2009 and was showcased in the Berlinale competition.
After completing my studies and attending a masterclass at UCLA, I moved to Berlin, where I still live today. There, I experienced the final major wave of German music video production, collaborating with numerous national and international artists. This time fostered my love for editing and rhythm, elements I consistently integrate into my cinematography.
In parallel, I began working in advertising, a career that took me across the globe through international productions. These experiences with diverse teams and cultures enriched me with new artistic perspectives.
In 2015, my work on Burhan Qurbani’s We Are Young. We Are Strong. was nominated for the German Film Award, a milestone that culminated in winning the award for the feature film Berlin Alexanderplatz in 2020. Other highlights of my career include collaborating with director Adrian Goiginger on The Best of All Worlds and The Fox, which was also nominated for the German Film Award. These projects emerged from a creative and inspiring partnership with cinematographer Paul Sprinz.
In 2018, I decided to step back from advertising and focus on serial and streaming formats. This shift allowed me to work on the second season of How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) with director Arne Feldhusen and on Blood Red Sky, the most internationally successful German Netflix film to date, with director Peter Thorwarth.
From 2018 onward, I gained valuable teaching experience, beginning with workshops and seminars at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. In 2022, I expanded my teaching to include a lens and format seminar and a color seminar at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). I find this work particularly rewarding, as it enables me to critically reflect on and question my own creative processes. Reassessing intuitive decisions and analyzing them within the broader context of the finished film has had a lasting impact on my artistic development.
Between 2020 and 2023, I served as a member of the feature film jury for the First Steps Awards, where I was also involved in selecting the Götz George Acting Prize and the Michael Ballhaus Cinematography Prize. In 2024, I joined the jury of the German Camera Award. These roles provided me with the opportunity to critically analyze cinematic works and engage in collective discussions with esteemed colleagues—an experience that deepened my perspective on filmmaking and my engagement with the art of cinema.
This uncertainty was evident during my first three years at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, where I struggled to gain sufficient practical experience. At the same time, this period became a crucial phase of orientation and connection: I met director and writer Burhan Qurbani. With his short film Illusion, we achieved a breakthrough in 2008, winning the German Camera Award. This success paved the way for our diploma feature film debut, Shahada, which earned the First Steps Camera Award in 2009 and was showcased in the Berlinale competition.
After completing my studies and attending a masterclass at UCLA, I moved to Berlin, where I still live today. There, I experienced the final major wave of German music video production, collaborating with numerous national and international artists. This time fostered my love for editing and rhythm, elements I consistently integrate into my cinematography.
In parallel, I began working in advertising, a career that took me across the globe through international productions. These experiences with diverse teams and cultures enriched me with new artistic perspectives.
In 2015, my work on Burhan Qurbani’s We Are Young. We Are Strong. was nominated for the German Film Award, a milestone that culminated in winning the award for the feature film Berlin Alexanderplatz in 2020. Other highlights of my career include collaborating with director Adrian Goiginger on The Best of All Worlds and The Fox, which was also nominated for the German Film Award. These projects emerged from a creative and inspiring partnership with cinematographer Paul Sprinz.
In 2018, I decided to step back from advertising and focus on serial and streaming formats. This shift allowed me to work on the second season of How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) with director Arne Feldhusen and on Blood Red Sky, the most internationally successful German Netflix film to date, with director Peter Thorwarth.
From 2018 onward, I gained valuable teaching experience, beginning with workshops and seminars at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. In 2022, I expanded my teaching to include a lens and format seminar and a color seminar at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). I find this work particularly rewarding, as it enables me to critically reflect on and question my own creative processes. Reassessing intuitive decisions and analyzing them within the broader context of the finished film has had a lasting impact on my artistic development.
Between 2020 and 2023, I served as a member of the feature film jury for the First Steps Awards, where I was also involved in selecting the Götz George Acting Prize and the Michael Ballhaus Cinematography Prize. In 2024, I joined the jury of the German Camera Award. These roles provided me with the opportunity to critically analyze cinematic works and engage in collective discussions with esteemed colleagues—an experience that deepened my perspective on filmmaking and my engagement with the art of cinema.
FILMOGRAPHY
2009-2019 commercial & musicvideo productions
for brands like Ikea, Red Bull, Nestea, Loewe, Danone,
Mercedes Benz, Ehrmann, Funny Frisch, Lidl, Targobank,
Karstadt, Zalando, Lidl, Telekom, Ferrero, Bahlsen etc...
for bands like Tote Hosen, Fantastische Vier, Ich&Ich,
Silbermond, Rosenstolz, Max Raabe, Xavier Naidoo,
Revolverheld, Dick Brave, Sido, Flair, Scooter etc...
2024
Daughter of the Earth 120min
Director: Lilli Tautfest
Production: Nuworx & Readymade Film GmbH
Feature / Red Komodo / Color 1:2,39
2023
No Beast So Fierce (136min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Sommerhaus Filmproduktion GmbH
Feature / Alexa35 / Color 1:1.66 & 1:1.235
2022
One Trillion Dollar (6x45min)
Director: Florian Baxmeyer / Isabella Braak
Production: Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion GmbH
Paramount+ Series / Sony Venice / Color 1:1.85
2021
Buba (100min)
Director: Arne Feldhusen
Production: BTF GmbH
Netflix Feature / Sony Venice / Color 1:2.39
Der Fuchs (110min)
Director: Adrian Goiginger
Production: Geissendörfer Film GmbH
Feature / Alexa Mini / 1:1.33
2020
Transatlantic 473 (120min)
Director: Peter Torwarth
Production: Rat Pack Film GmbH
Netflix Feature / Alexa Mini LF / Color 1:2
2019
How To Sell Drugs Online (fast) Season 2 (90min)
Director: Arne Feldhusen
Production: BTF GmbH
Netflix Series / Sony Venice / Color / 1:2
Isi & Ossi (120min)
Director: Oliver Kienle
Production: X-Filme Creative Pool GmbH
Netflix Feature / Sony Venice / Color / 1:2
2018
A Pure Place (90min)
Director: Nikias Chryssos
Production: Violet Pictures
Feature / Alexa XT & Mini / Color / 1:2.39
Berlin Alexanderplatz (180min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Sommerhaus Film
Feature / Arri Alexa XT & Alexa Mini / Color/ 1:2,39
2016
Das Verschwinden / The Vanishing (8 x 45min)
Director: Hans-Christian Schmid
Production: 23/5 and MIA Film
Mini Series / Arri Alexa & Alexa Mini / Color / 16:9
Die Beste Aller Welten / The Best of All Worlds (103min)
Director: Adrian Goiginger
Production: Ritzlfilm and Lailaps Pictures
Feature / Arri Alexa Mini / Color / 1:1,85
2015
Die Vierhändige / Four Hands (100min)
Director: Oliver Kienle
Production: Erftalfilm / SWR
Feature / Red Epic Dragon / Color / 1:2,35
Mitten in Deutschland: NSU - Die Opfer (95min)
Director: Züli Aladag
Production: Wiedemann&Berg Film / WDR
Feature / Arri Alexa / Color / 16:9
2014
Tatort – Schwerelos (89min)
Director: Züli Aladag
Production: Geissendörfer Film / WDR
Feature – Series / Arri Alexa / Blackmagic / Color / 16:9
2013
Wir Sind Jung, Wir Sind Stark / We Are Young, We Are Strong (120min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: UFA fiction / ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel
Feature / Arri Alexa / Color & B/W / 1:2,35 / 1:1,85
2009
Schreie der Vergessenen (90min)
Director: Lars Henning Jung
Production: Zum Goldenen Lamm Film GmbH / Pro Sieben
Feature / Red MX / Color / 16:9
2008
When the Hurleyburly`s done (15min)
Director: Hanna Maria Heidrich
Production: Axel Brüggman FABW
Feature / Red One / Color / 1:2,35
Shahada (90min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Bittersuess Film GmbH, ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel, FABW
Feature / Red One / Color / 1:2,35
2007
Der Verdacht / The Suspicion (25min)
Director: Felix Hassenfratz
Production: ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln GmbH, SWR
Short / Super 16mm / Color / 16:9
Illusion (8:30min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: FABW, LaFemis, SWR und Arte
Short / Super 35mm / Color / 1:2,35
2006
Vögel ohne Beine / Birds without Legs (35min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Marco Dreyse, FABW,HFF Konrad Wolf, Sat1/ProSieben
Series / HDCam / Pro 35 / Color / 16:9
Tabula Rasa (8:30min)
Director: Alex Eslam
Production: FABW, LaFemis, SWR und Arte
Short / Super 16mm / Color / 16
for brands like Ikea, Red Bull, Nestea, Loewe, Danone,
Mercedes Benz, Ehrmann, Funny Frisch, Lidl, Targobank,
Karstadt, Zalando, Lidl, Telekom, Ferrero, Bahlsen etc...
for bands like Tote Hosen, Fantastische Vier, Ich&Ich,
Silbermond, Rosenstolz, Max Raabe, Xavier Naidoo,
Revolverheld, Dick Brave, Sido, Flair, Scooter etc...
2024
Daughter of the Earth 120min
Director: Lilli Tautfest
Production: Nuworx & Readymade Film GmbH
Feature / Red Komodo / Color 1:2,39
2023
No Beast So Fierce (136min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Sommerhaus Filmproduktion GmbH
Feature / Alexa35 / Color 1:1.66 & 1:1.235
2022
One Trillion Dollar (6x45min)
Director: Florian Baxmeyer / Isabella Braak
Production: Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion GmbH
Paramount+ Series / Sony Venice / Color 1:1.85
2021
Buba (100min)
Director: Arne Feldhusen
Production: BTF GmbH
Netflix Feature / Sony Venice / Color 1:2.39
Der Fuchs (110min)
Director: Adrian Goiginger
Production: Geissendörfer Film GmbH
Feature / Alexa Mini / 1:1.33
2020
Transatlantic 473 (120min)
Director: Peter Torwarth
Production: Rat Pack Film GmbH
Netflix Feature / Alexa Mini LF / Color 1:2
2019
How To Sell Drugs Online (fast) Season 2 (90min)
Director: Arne Feldhusen
Production: BTF GmbH
Netflix Series / Sony Venice / Color / 1:2
Isi & Ossi (120min)
Director: Oliver Kienle
Production: X-Filme Creative Pool GmbH
Netflix Feature / Sony Venice / Color / 1:2
2018
A Pure Place (90min)
Director: Nikias Chryssos
Production: Violet Pictures
Feature / Alexa XT & Mini / Color / 1:2.39
Berlin Alexanderplatz (180min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Sommerhaus Film
Feature / Arri Alexa XT & Alexa Mini / Color/ 1:2,39
2016
Das Verschwinden / The Vanishing (8 x 45min)
Director: Hans-Christian Schmid
Production: 23/5 and MIA Film
Mini Series / Arri Alexa & Alexa Mini / Color / 16:9
Die Beste Aller Welten / The Best of All Worlds (103min)
Director: Adrian Goiginger
Production: Ritzlfilm and Lailaps Pictures
Feature / Arri Alexa Mini / Color / 1:1,85
2015
Die Vierhändige / Four Hands (100min)
Director: Oliver Kienle
Production: Erftalfilm / SWR
Feature / Red Epic Dragon / Color / 1:2,35
Mitten in Deutschland: NSU - Die Opfer (95min)
Director: Züli Aladag
Production: Wiedemann&Berg Film / WDR
Feature / Arri Alexa / Color / 16:9
2014
Tatort – Schwerelos (89min)
Director: Züli Aladag
Production: Geissendörfer Film / WDR
Feature – Series / Arri Alexa / Blackmagic / Color / 16:9
2013
Wir Sind Jung, Wir Sind Stark / We Are Young, We Are Strong (120min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: UFA fiction / ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel
Feature / Arri Alexa / Color & B/W / 1:2,35 / 1:1,85
2009
Schreie der Vergessenen (90min)
Director: Lars Henning Jung
Production: Zum Goldenen Lamm Film GmbH / Pro Sieben
Feature / Red MX / Color / 16:9
2008
When the Hurleyburly`s done (15min)
Director: Hanna Maria Heidrich
Production: Axel Brüggman FABW
Feature / Red One / Color / 1:2,35
Shahada (90min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Bittersuess Film GmbH, ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel, FABW
Feature / Red One / Color / 1:2,35
2007
Der Verdacht / The Suspicion (25min)
Director: Felix Hassenfratz
Production: ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln GmbH, SWR
Short / Super 16mm / Color / 16:9
Illusion (8:30min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: FABW, LaFemis, SWR und Arte
Short / Super 35mm / Color / 1:2,35
2006
Vögel ohne Beine / Birds without Legs (35min)
Director: Burhan Qurbani
Production: Marco Dreyse, FABW,HFF Konrad Wolf, Sat1/ProSieben
Series / HDCam / Pro 35 / Color / 16:9
Tabula Rasa (8:30min)
Director: Alex Eslam
Production: FABW, LaFemis, SWR und Arte
Short / Super 16mm / Color / 16
AWARDS
2024
German Film Awards 2024
nominated for „The Fox“
2023
German Camera Award
nominated for "The Fox"
Kurier Romy Awards
won best cinematography for "The Fox"
2018
70. Berlinale Official Selection Competion
with "Berlin Alexanderplatz"
70. German Film Arwards
won best cinematography for "Berlin Alexanderplatz"
2017
67. Berlinale Perspective German Cinema
with „The Best of All Worlds“
German Camera Award 2017
nominated for „The Best of All Worlds“
2016
German TV Awards 2016
for „NSU Trilogy: German History X“
2015
German Film Awards 2015
nominated for „We are young, We are strong“
2014
Rome International Filmfestival 2014
Main Competion with „We are young, We are strong“
Hofer Filmtage 2014
opening feature film section with „We are young, We are strong“
2013
Cannes YDA Gold 2013
for „Visions – The Rock N Roll Manifesto“
2010
60. Berlinale Official Selection Competion 2010
with „Shahada“
First Steps Camera Award 2010
for „Shahada“
Hessischer Filmpreis 2010
for „Shahada
Studio Hamburg Nachwuchspreis 2010
for „Shahada“
2008
German Camera Award 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
Kodak Camera Award 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
Spotlights 2008
Gold Award for „For Ever“
Spezial Award at Filmfestival of Serbia 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
First Steps Award 2008
nominated in the category commercial with „For Ever“
nominated in the category short film with „The Suspicion“
Cannes Young Lions Award 2008
nominated for „For Ever““
German Shortfilm Award 2008
for the short film „The Suspicion“
Middle East International Filmfestival Abu Dhabi 2008
1.Place Student Film Competition
2007
German Camera Award 2007
nominated for the series „Birds without Legs“
Kodak Camera Award 2007
nominated for the short film „Tabula Rasa“
German Film Awards 2024
nominated for „The Fox“
2023
German Camera Award
nominated for "The Fox"
Kurier Romy Awards
won best cinematography for "The Fox"
2018
70. Berlinale Official Selection Competion
with "Berlin Alexanderplatz"
70. German Film Arwards
won best cinematography for "Berlin Alexanderplatz"
2017
67. Berlinale Perspective German Cinema
with „The Best of All Worlds“
German Camera Award 2017
nominated for „The Best of All Worlds“
2016
German TV Awards 2016
for „NSU Trilogy: German History X“
2015
German Film Awards 2015
nominated for „We are young, We are strong“
2014
Rome International Filmfestival 2014
Main Competion with „We are young, We are strong“
Hofer Filmtage 2014
opening feature film section with „We are young, We are strong“
2013
Cannes YDA Gold 2013
for „Visions – The Rock N Roll Manifesto“
2010
60. Berlinale Official Selection Competion 2010
with „Shahada“
First Steps Camera Award 2010
for „Shahada“
Hessischer Filmpreis 2010
for „Shahada
Studio Hamburg Nachwuchspreis 2010
for „Shahada“
2008
German Camera Award 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
Kodak Camera Award 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
Spotlights 2008
Gold Award for „For Ever“
Spezial Award at Filmfestival of Serbia 2008
for the short film „Illusion“
First Steps Award 2008
nominated in the category commercial with „For Ever“
nominated in the category short film with „The Suspicion“
Cannes Young Lions Award 2008
nominated for „For Ever““
German Shortfilm Award 2008
for the short film „The Suspicion“
Middle East International Filmfestival Abu Dhabi 2008
1.Place Student Film Competition
2007
German Camera Award 2007
nominated for the series „Birds without Legs“
Kodak Camera Award 2007
nominated for the short film „Tabula Rasa“