Weitere Namen
Cornelia Walther (Geburtsname)
Cast, Director, Assistant director, Screenplay, Producer
Darmstadt

Biography

Connie Walther, born September 17, 1962, in Darmstadt, studied sociology and Spanish in Marburg after finishing school before she attended an apprenticeship as a photographer for commercials. She made her first experiences in the movie business as a lighting technician and as a assistant producer and director for directors like Dominik Graf, Wolfgang Becker, and Mark Schlichter, among others. Subsequently, Walther studied directing at Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (dffb).

Her short film "Boersday Blues" (1992) won the audience award at the Wuppertal film festival and the first prize at Asynchron Berlin film festival. Her graduation film "Das erste Mal" ("The First Time"), filmed in 1996 with Lavinia Wilson in the leading role, won the award as "Best graduation film of the year" at a German film academy. Since then, Walther has tried out herself in different genres and formats, filmed commercials as well as TV feature and documentary films, including the "Tatort" episode "Offene Rechnung". In 1999, she won the Grimme award for her film "Hauptsache Leben" ("Life Is The Main Thing).

With "Wie Feuer und Flamme" ("Never Mind the Wall", 2001), her debut for the movie screen, a film about an inner-German love story among teenagers, Connie Walther celebrated national and international success. She won the German Camera Award and the German Screenplay Award. After several TV and short films, she again caused a stir with the TV movie "12 heißt: Ich liebe dich" ("12 Means: I Love You", 2007) about the love relationship between a Stasi interrogator and his victim. In 2008, Walther won the German Television Award for "Best Direction".

Simultaneously with the opening of her movie "Schattenwelt" ("Long Shadows"), a drama about the aftermath of RAF terrorism, Connie Walther presented her next film, "Frau Böhm sagt Nein", starring Senta Berger, at the Ludwigshafen film festival in June 2009. Walther was awarded the Grimme Prize and the Ernst Schneider Prize for this drama about a clerk who uncovers corrupt machinations on the part of her bosses.   

There was also much critical praise for "Zappelphilipp" (2012, TV), about dealing with lively children in the classroom who allegedly have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This film also received a nomination for the prestigious Grimme Award. Lighter fare was the comedy "Die Hochzeit meiner Eltern" (2016, TV), starring Senta Berger and Günther Maria Halmer.    

For theatrical release, she made the experimental drama "Die Rüden" (2019), which explores the theme of toxic masculinity through a project in which four young violent offenders meet three menacing dogs with muzzles. The film premiered at the Hofer Filmtage 2019.

Filmography

2017-2019
  • Director
2018/2019
  • Director
2012
  • Director
2008
  • Director
  • Screenplay
  • Co-Producer
2000/2001
  • Director
1999
  • Director
1998
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1995-1997
  • 2nd Unit director
1996
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1994/1995
  • Assistant director
1993
  • Assistant director
1993
  • Director
  • Screenplay
1991/1992
  • Assistant director
1989
  • Cast
1986
  • Director