Anthony Waller was born in October 1959 in Beirut, Lebanon, to English parents. Growing up, he spent time in both the Middle East and England, developing a strong foundation for his future endeavors. At the tender age of 11, Waller began experimenting with Super-8 film, showcasing his creative aptitude from an early age.
As a teenager, Waller's animated films garnered international recognition, with three of his works being finalists in two prestigious film competitions sponsored and televised by the BBC. This achievement demonstrated his exceptional talent and dedication to the craft.
In 1978, Waller became the youngest student to be admitted to the UK's National Film School, where he honed his skills until 1981. During his time at the school, he received the Shakespeare Scholarship 1981, which enabled him to spend a year on attachment at Munich's HFF (Film and Television School) in Germany.
Waller's remarkable journey continued when he won 1st prize in the fiction category for his graduation short film, When the Rain Stops (1981),at the first International Festival of Film Schools in Munich. This accolade solidified his position as a rising star in the film industry.
Following his graduation, Waller remained in Germany for eight years, initially working as a vision mixer and editor for German television. He then went on to direct and edit over 200 commercials, music videos, and movie trailers, and co-founded the commercial production company, Cobblestone Pictures, in Hamburg in 1992.
In addition to his work in film and television, Waller also began composing music professionally in 1984. He wrote a Christmas Carol for the German football team, FC Bayern, and has since composed jingles for various commercials, including MB Games, Bahlsen, Baileys, and Old Spice.
Waller's feature film debut, the thriller Mute Witness (1995),was a complex and challenging production, shot entirely in Moscow in 1993. Despite the numerous obstacles he faced, including Russia's October revolution, a diphtheria outbreak, and local mafia extortion, the film was a critical and commercial success, being sold to Columbia TriStar and distributed worldwide.
In 1995, Waller co-founded the Amsterdam-based production company, Cometstone Pictures, and went on to direct, co-write, and executive produce the supernatural thriller An American Werewolf in Paris (1997). The film was an entirely European co-production, sold to Hollywood Pictures, and received a Buena Vista release on Christmas Day 1997.
Throughout his illustrious career, Waller has directed a wide range of films, including the psychological thriller The Guilty (2000),the supernatural thriller 9 Miles Down (2009),and the dramatized documentary "The Singularity is Near" with Ray Kurzweil. He has also worked on several television projects, including the 16-part series "Trader" (alias Oil for Blood) and the more recent "The Piper" with Elizabeth Hurley.
