BERND LÜTZELER

(*1967, Düsseldorf) studied Fine Arts and Media Art at the University of the Arts Berlin, where he completed Maria Vedder's master class in 2003. He lives and works as an artist and filmmaker between Berlin and Mumbai. His films have been shown at venues and festivals worldwide, including Centre Pompidou, Berlinale International Film Festival, Rotterdam, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Views from the Avant-Garde and many more. Bernd is an active member of the artist-run analogue filmlab LaborBerlin.

about my work
In my films, installations and expanded cinema works I often explore the techniques of moving image production and presentation in interrelation with their form and perception. Therefore, loops, found footage and the disclosure of DIY- (Jugaad) and analogue technologies have become an integral part of my work. I am an active member of the artist-run filmlab LaborBerlin e.V., a space where filmmakers can process, edit and copy their own films on 8 and 16mm celluloid film. Another strong influence in my work are the aesthetics of popular Indian culture. Over the last sixteen years I have spent a significant amount of time in Mumbai where some of my projects were produced. What fascinates me, is seeing universal global themes like urban angst, mass media or migration gaining an emphasis against the backdrop of a contemporary urban India.

portfolio
download current portfolio

works
tba           Strugglers – experimental documentary, DCP (in development)
tba           Revue! – found footage film, Super-8, 6 min (in production)
tba           the Resurrection of God – film collage, 35mm (in production)
tba           Analogue Natives – experimental documentary, 35mm & DCP (in post-production)
2023        Vintage Wisdom From The Ether – experimental film, 16mm & DCP
2022        How to Build a House out of Wreckage and Rags – found footage film, Super-8, 8 min
2018        Digital Rituals in the Analogue Cloud – film performance with fog & live music, 15 Min
2018        Fultu Faltu Filim – experimental film, 35mm, 2 min
2018        _galore – experimental film, DCP
2017        Camera Threat – experimental film, double projection 35mm & DCP, 30 min
2017        A Soundfilm – found footage film, Super-8, 6 min
2016        Batagur Baska (by Guido Möbius) – music clip, Super-8, 8 min
2014        Nola’s saloN – room installation with 3 Super-8 loops and sound
2014        Traveling with Maxim Gorkiy – found footage film, Super-8, 11 min
2011        K⁰ Act 2 – multimedia theatre performance, 30 min
2011        the Voice of God – experimental film, 35mm, 10 min
2005        Rapid Eye Love – experimental film, Super-8, 4 min
2003        True Love is just Filmi – experimental video, 15 min
1998        The Suspect Usual – experimental video, 18 min
1998        Eternal Showdown – film loop for Loop-o-Rama, Super-8
1996        Schallmann – radio play, 6 min
1995-00   Loop-o-Rama – film installation, various Super-8 loops
1994        Walls Projection Project – slide installation with sound, 20 min
1993        Rauschlitanei – experimental video, 1 min loop
1992        Zeit im Bild – painted film animation, Super-8, 2 min

films in distribution
Light Cone distribution, Paris
Arsenal Distribution, Berlin

education
2001-03   Experimental Media, University of the Arts Berlin, Maria Vedder’s master class
1997        Time Based Media, University of West England, Bower Ashton College, Bristol, UK
1991-98   Experimental Media, University of the Arts Berlin, classes of Maria Vedder & Rotraut Pape
1989-91   Fine Arts, University of the Arts Berlin, class of Frank Badur
1988        Fine Arts, European Academy of Fine Arts Trier, classes of Christian Sery & Martin Assig
1987        Litho & Offset Printing at Vignold GmbH Essen, Germany

grants, residencies & commissions
2023        Vintage Wisdom from the Ether commissioned by IULMIA for A Century of 16mm
2022        Special Grants Program from Stiftung Kulturfonds – part of Neustart Kultur for Revue!
2021        Initial – Special Grants Program from Akademie der Künste Berlin for Analogue Natives
2020        Special Grants Program from Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe
2017        Crossing Borders – research grant from Robert Bosch Stiftung for Strugglers
2017        Research Stipend from the Federal State of Berlin for Strugglers
2017        bangaloREsidency at Goethe-Institut Bangalore in collaboration with Experimenta & Srishti
2015        Film Grant from Federal Government Commissioner for Culture & Media for Camera Threat
2011        Grant Program for the 50th Anniversary of Max Mueller Bhavan in India for K⁰

awards
2022        Best German Film – Himachal Short Film Festival, Manali, India for How to Build a House ...
2022        Best Experimental – Screener Short Films, London for How to Build a House ...
2018        Best Int. Short Documentary – FIC Monterrey International Film Festival, Mexico for _galore
2018        First Prize – Horn Festival for Experimental Films, Jerusalem, Israel for Camera Threat
2018        Kodak Cinematic Vision Award – Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA for Camera Threat
2018        Honorable Mention – Big Muddy Film Festival, USA for Camera Threat
2017        Honourable Mention – Indian Film Festival Stuttgart, Germany for Camera Threat
2016        Second Prize – Swedenborg Film Festival London, UK for Batagur Baska
2016        Nominated at NeMaf Festival Seoul, Korea with Traveling with Maxim Gorkiy
2016        Silver Award for Best Foreign Promo Clip – PromaxBDA London, UK for Tarantino-Trailer
2015        Best Documentary – Landshut Shortfilm Festival, Germany for Traveling with Maxim Gorkiy
2014        Special Mention – Filmzeit Kaufbeuren, Germany for the Voice of God
2013        Third Prize – 20minmax Filmfestival Ingolstadt, Germany for the Voice of God
2013        Special Mention – Skepto International Film Festival, Italy for the Voice of God
2013        Special Mention – Rencontres Cinématographiques de Cerbère, France for the Voice of God
2012        Gold Remi Award – WorldFest Houston, USA forthe Voice of God
2012        First Prize – Black Maria Film & Video Festival, USA for the Voice of God
2008        International Eyes & Ears Trailer Festival Munich, Germany for FilmFilm Trailer
2003        Hans-W.-Geissendoerfer-Newcomer-Award Germany for True Love is just Filmi
1993        Second Prize – Contest Youth & Video Potsdam, Germany for Rauschlitanei

selected press
2020        Günther Michels about the group exhibition Auslöser on Vagabundler
2017        Matt Turner about Camera Threat on MUBI Notebook
2017        Priyanka Sacheti about _galore on sbcltr
2017        Tanul Thakur about Camera Threat on TheWire
2016        Philip Widmann about the Voice of God for Image Forum Festival, Japan
2016        Alejandro Bachmann über Unterwegs mit Maxim Gorkiy bei aufsmaulsuppe
2015        Philip Widmann about Traveling with Maxim Gorkiy for Arkipel Festival Jakarta, Indonesia
2012        Arnaud Hée about the Voice of God on Critikat
2011        Divashri Sinha about K⁰ in Mumbai Mirror
2011        Domitila Radharane about the Voice of God on Janela Crítica
2011        Jury-Begründung der FBW für the Voice of God

teaching
Video Introduction at Faculty Art Therapy / Berlin Weissensee School of Art 2021
16mm Camera & Hand Processing at LaborBerlin e.V. 2019
From Shoot To Finish - Advanced 16mm Filmmaking Workshop at Harkat Studios Mumbai, India 2018
Experimental 16mm Lab at Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore, India 2017

commissioned works
in the fields editing, photography, projection & production for artists, musicians & filmmakers & institutions: Jeanno Gaussi, Ashim Ahluwalia, Klaus Lutz, Corinna Schnitt, Alla Kovgan, Guido Möbius, Distruktur, Experimenta India, Shumona Goel, Asteris Kutulas, Kolja Kunt, Susanne Gupta, Zarah Ziadi, Amirali Navaee, Sujatro Ghosh, Susanna Brenner, Angela Lamprianidou, Sadashivam Rao, Clara Bausch, Philip Widmann, Sharmistha Saha, Juliane Zelwies, Douglas Wolfsperger, Sophie-Therese Trenka-Dalton, Melina Pafundi, Lenard Giller, Claudio Caldini

curator
Out of Focus LaborBerlin – Center of the Universe, film talk at Sinema Transtopia, Berlin 2020
NoMasala - Traveling Indian Short Films, short film program with screenings in many German & European cities 2004-11 (also founder): Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Leipzig, Jena, Hamburg, Würzburg, Munich, Cologne, Prague, Berne & Paris

freelance editor, photographer, projectionist & producer
for SAT.1, ProSiebenSat.1 Produktion, Finecut Media, Bavaria Film, Deutsche Fernsehwerke, 27 Films, Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Monomango, die Paten, Diesel & Dünger, Sense Music & Media, the Screeners, K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Future East Film, TWT Berlin, Viacom, Volksbühne Berlin, UFA Serial Drama, achtung panda!, Verein Berliner Künstler, Fracto Experimental Film Encounter, Experimenta India, Breuerfilm Berlin, ZDFneo & others

festival jury
Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, India 2017
Indian Filmfestival Stuttgart, Germany 2017