After completing his high school education in 1988, Rothemund embarked on a career in the film industry, initially serving as a production manager and assistant director for his father and other prominent filmmakers such as Bernd Eichinger. In 1994, he had the opportunity to assist French director Gérard Corbiau on the set of the critically acclaimed drama "Farinelli", which received an Academy Award nomination.
Rothemund's early work in television included directing the series "Wilde Jungs - Two to Fall in Love" for Sat.1, a project he worked on from 1996 onwards. He also collaborated with screenwriter Fred Breinersdorfer on the ZDF series "Lawyer Abel", for which he directed two episodes in 1997. This project earned the Telestar award, solidifying Rothemund's reputation as a talented director.
In 1998, Rothemund made his feature film debut with "The strange behavior of sexually mature city dwellers during the mating season", a highly acclaimed film that received the Bavarian Film Prize and the 3sat Audience Prize. His subsequent feature film, "Harte Jungs", was widely popular among cinema audiences in 2000.
Rothemund's collaboration with author Fred Breinersdorfer continued with the television film "Hope Dies Last" in 2002, a bullying drama that won numerous awards, including the Golden Camera, the Gold Grimme Prize, and the 3sat Audience Prize. The director received the VFF TV Movie Award in 2003 for his work on the television crime thriller "The Duo - The Lover".
In 2004, Rothemund reunited with Breinersdorfer for the film "Sophie Scholl - The Last Days", a project that not only showcased the director's storytelling abilities but also marked his debut as a co-producer. The film tells the powerful story of Sophie Scholl, a member of the "White Rose" resistance movement during the Nazi era, and her final days.
Rothemund presented "Sophie Scholl" at the 55th Berlinale in February 2005, where it was selected as one of the three German competition entries. He won a "Silver Bear" for his direction and for Julia Jentsch's outstanding performance in the lead role. The film went on to receive an Academy Award nomination in the "Best Foreign Film" category, cementing Rothemund's status as a respected filmmaker in the industry.
