Edwin Brienen

Edwin Brienen (born June 15, 1971 in Alkmaar, Netherlands) is a Dutch film director.

Biography

After studying philosophy and psychology, Edwin Brienen embarked on a career as a radio host at the age of 22. His programs for Dutch broadcasting association VPRO attracted a nationwide following. On television he starred in the underground series "Ultra Vista!". During a two and a half year hiatus from the VPRO, he directed several much-talked-about programsFact|date=February 2008 for Veronica Television, including "Buch, Burgers & Buitenlui" and "Hoe Hoort het Eigenlijk?" with Theo van Gogh.

In 2001, he wrote, directed, and edited his debut feature film "Terrorama", a dark story about a group of dispirited people who seek out 'psychological freedom' by committing an act of terror. A year later, Brienen returned to the VPRO and, in September 2001, he created a series about the New York underground scene. He witnessed the attack on the Twin TowersFact|date=February 2008 and was forced to cancel the NY premiere of "Terrorama".

"Terrorama" won several awards at international film festivalsFact|date=February 2008. For her role in the film, Esther Eva Verkaaiks won Best Leading Actress at the Toronto Independent Film Festival.

In September, 2004, Brienen's follow-up feature "Life Pornography" was finally released (the film was originally shot in 2002 but, due to legal problemsFact|date=February 2008, it was held for release). It details the downfall of a nightclub owner and a group of self-destructive Amsterdam artists living in Berlin. "Life Pornography" stars Esther Eva Verkaaik, Eva Dorrepaal, Nicole Ohliger, Jean-Louis Costes, and two-time winner of the Golden film prize, Peter Kern.

Brienen's third feature, "Both Ends Burning", premiered during the Brienen Festival in 14 Dutch theaters in January 2005. The film probes the underbelly of relationships and is suffused with an atmosphere reminiscent of French cinema of the '70s but also contains bone-chilling moments that recall "Carrie" and "Repulsion". In 2005, ARTE TV broadcast a documentary about Brienen in which they compared his work and intensity with Kubrick’s "Clockwork Orange". In May, Brienen directed the short film "Das Absolut Böse" that appears on the DVD release "Dark Shots". The dark comedy "Why Ulli Wanted to Kill Himself on Christmas Eve" premiered mid-December in several German theaters.

2006

2006 was Brienen's most productive yearFact|date=February 2008. His first theater play "Loaded" premiered in the prestigious Berlin Sophiensaele during 'the long weekend of free theater'. A filmed impression can be seen in "My First Show". He finished the American production "Last Performance", about the self-chosen downfall of a woman in the theater world of New York (world premiere at the Dutch Film Festival, September 27th through October 6th 2006).

In June, the feature film "Edwin Brienen's Hysteria" was shown in German cinemas. A political horror, it dealt with topics such as mind manipulation and false reality, one of the most bizarre cinema experiences of the yearFact|date=February 2008.

For the London-based duo Noblesse Oblige, he directed a music video for their hit "Quel genre de garcon". During July, he shot the feature film "I'd Like To Die A Thousand Times" in which two couples explored the mechanics of 'killing' during a wild ride through Berlin. A controversial storyFact|date=February 2008, again written and filmed by Brienen himself. New actors join the Brienen club this time: the American Clayton Nemrow, "Possession" actor Shaun Lawton and "Verliebt in Berlin" star Bärbel Schleker.

2007

Brienen recently finished filming two feature films: "L'amour toujours", planned for a December release, starring "Das Boot"-actor Erwin Leder. The script was written by Brienen's long-time friend Thomas van Aalten. And set for release in 2008: "Revision - Apocalypse II", starring Eva Dorrepaal, Sebastian Suba, Heike-Melba Fendel, Clayton Nemrow, Jacob Dove Basker, Gabriel Merz, and The Horrorist.

Brienen also shot the new Joachim Witt video "Goldener Reiter 2007" on 16mm.

Filmography

2008 Revision - Apocalypse II (post-production)
2007 L'amour toujours (post-production)
2007 I'd Like To Die A Thousand Times
2006 Last Performance (premiere Dutch Film Festival 2006)
2006 Edwin Brienen's Hysteria - Apocalypse 1
2006 My First Show (short)
2005 Warum Ulli sich am Weihnachtsabend umbringen wollte
2005 Das Absolut Böse (short)
2004 Both Ends Burning
2003 Life Pornography
2002 Antifilm
2001 Terrorama
1999 Liefde in de Nacht (short)
1998 Sweet Surprise (short)

External links

* [http://www.edwinbrienen.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/edwinbrienen Official MySpace Site]
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