Alexander Nanau, a multifaceted filmmaker of German and Romanian descent, was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1979. He embarked on a journey of cinematic discovery by enrolling in the esteemed DFFB Filmschool in Berlin, where he honed his skills in Film Direction.
Nanau's inaugural feature documentary, Peter Zadek inszeniert Peer Gynt, premiered in Germany and Austria in 2006, marking the beginning of his illustrious career.
In 2008 and 2009, Nanau co-produced, directed, and shot the documentary The World According to Ion B. with HBO. This captivating film tells the extraordinary story of a 62-year-old homeless man who finds success in the international art world through his remarkable collages, crafted over the past three decades. The documentary's impressive reception was capped off with an 'International Emmy Award' for Arts Programming in 2010.
Nanau's third feature documentary, Toto and His Sisters, was produced in collaboration with HBO and premiered at the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival in the 'New Directors' section. The film garnered widespread acclaim, winning major awards at festivals in Angers, Zurich, Warsaw, Jihlava, Leipzig, and Sarajevo, and earning a nomination for 'Best Documentary' at the European Film Awards in 2015.
Nanau's most recent and critically acclaimed documentary, "Collective", was a game-changer in his career. As a producer, director, shooter, and editor, he brought this powerful film to life. The film's impact was recognized on the global stage, becoming the first Romanian film to be nominated for an Academy Award, with nominations in both the Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary categories in 2021.
