Werner Penzel was born in Germany in 1950, and his early life was marked by a passion for music and poetry. In the 1960s, he began playing in various rock bands and writing poetry, which was first published in R.D. Brinkmann's underground magazine "Der Froehliche Tarzan". This creative outlet was just the beginning of his artistic journey, as he soon turned his attention to independent movie-making.
The 1970s were a transformative time for Penzel, as he worked and lived with the Brazilian theatre company "Oficina" in Rio De Janeiro. He also accompanied the "Living Theatre" in Europe, studied at the Munich Film Academy, and embarked on a series of travels that took him to South and Central America, North Africa, India, the USA, and Japan. During this period, he spent time practicing Zen Buddhism in the monasteries of Eiheiji and Antaiji.
As his film career took off, Penzel went on to direct a number of movies, including "Vagabunden Karawane" (1980),"Pirates of Silence" (1984),"Adios al Odio" (1986),and others. In 1987, he co-founded the production company "CineNomad" with Nicolas Humbert, which would go on to produce a number of notable films, including "Step Across the Border" (1990),"Middle of the Moment" (1995),the film triptych "Three Windows" (1999),the chamber film "Why Should I Buy a Bed When All That I Want is Sleep?" (1999),and the jazz film "Brother Yusef" (2005).
In addition to his work in film, Penzel has also been an educator, teaching at film, media, and art academies in Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, and Lugano since 1995. He has also founded several companies, including "jourparjour company" in Estavayer-Le-Lac, Switzerland, and "nomadomura" on the island of Awaji-shima in Japan, where he continues to work on cultural exchange and human research projects.
Throughout his career, Penzel has been driven by a desire to explore the boundaries between art and life, and to create works that challenge and inspire audiences. His unique blend of creative expression and intellectual curiosity has made him a respected figure in the world of independent cinema and beyond.
