Thomas Heise was born in 1955 and trained as a printer from 1971-1973. He began to work at the DEFA Studio for Feature Films from 1975 as an assistant director for filmmakers like Heiner Carow and Juli Raisman. In 1978, he began studying at the Academy of Film & Television in Potsdam-Babelsberg (HFF/B), but broke off his studies in 1982. Since then, he has worked as a freelance writer and director, and also as a contributing director at the Berliner Ensemble theater since 1991.

His documentaries include two films which never received public screenings, "Das Haus" (1984) and "Volkspolizei" (1985), video documentaries such as "Heiner Mueller I" (1988), 4.11.1989 and "Zuchthaus Brandenburg", Dezember 1989" (both 1989), the short "Imbiss Spezial"(1989), "Eisenzeit" (1991), "Stau - jetzt geht"s los" (1992), "Barluschke" (1997), and "Neustadt Stau - Stand der Dinge" (2000).

Source: German Films Service & Marketing GmbH