Otwin Biernat
- Director
- Editor
- Producer
Otwin is an award winning director from Graz, Austria. He is part of the Schwarzenegger family and related to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He is known for his unconventional way of telling a story. His first feature film Point of View was shot with very long camera movements often longer than 20 minutes until a cut. Within the first 80 minutes the film had only 5 hidden cuts.
His second feature film a black comedy called AusWeg is probably the first feature film that was realized by only one person: writing, directing, filming, acting, sound recording (basically everything on the set), the whole post production including music composing, everything was done by one person. What started as an experiment took 5 years and was finally finished in 2022.
Otwin started his foray into theatre and film in Vienna in 2001. Through various national theatre pieces, he evolved from actor, to assistant director, and ultimately director. In 2009, Otwin moved to Berlin to expand his horizons. He joined the Berlin film circle, and in a spur of curiosity, started experimenting with cameras, leading him to discover his true passion - filmography. In 2011, "Codewort Mr. Bean" which he co-directed, acted in, and produced was screened at the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival. The film garnered 3rd place for "Best Camera" in the 99 Fire Films Awards category. Seeking international experience, Otwin moved to the Middle East in late 2011, where he worked for television as senior picture editor. However, the call of filmography and art was too strong, and in 2014, Otwin made his way back to Europe. He then co-produced the movie "Homesick" which had its world premiere at the Berlinale International Film Festival in 2015. As a director Otwin completed his first feature film "Point of View - Im Auge des Betrachters" in 2017. Otwin fuses film, satirical theatre, music, painting and drawing, with unconventional story lines and cinematic techniques, creating a holistic art form that captivates and surprises viewers through engaging points of views. His film was awarded and nominated at many different festivals all around the globe. In 2024, he finished his second feature film "DeadEnd/Ausweg". The film was selected at over 50 film festivals and won many awards. Otwin works on different film projects especially in countries like Germany, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Austria. He is part of the jury for several international film festivals and he also gives film workshops on different film schools.
Otwin started his foray into theatre and film in Vienna in 2001. Through various national theatre pieces, he evolved from actor, to assistant director, and ultimately director. In 2009, Otwin moved to Berlin to expand his horizons. He joined the Berlin film circle, and in a spur of curiosity, started experimenting with cameras, leading him to discover his true passion - filmography. In 2011, "Codewort Mr. Bean" which he co-directed, acted in, and produced was screened at the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival. The film garnered 3rd place for "Best Camera" in the 99 Fire Films Awards category. Seeking international experience, Otwin moved to the Middle East in late 2011, where he worked for television as senior picture editor. However, the call of filmography and art was too strong, and in 2014, Otwin made his way back to Europe. He then co-produced the movie "Homesick" which had its world premiere at the Berlinale International Film Festival in 2015. As a director Otwin completed his first feature film "Point of View - Im Auge des Betrachters" in 2017. Otwin fuses film, satirical theatre, music, painting and drawing, with unconventional story lines and cinematic techniques, creating a holistic art form that captivates and surprises viewers through engaging points of views. His film was awarded and nominated at many different festivals all around the globe. In 2024, he finished his second feature film "DeadEnd/Ausweg". The film was selected at over 50 film festivals and won many awards. Otwin works on different film projects especially in countries like Germany, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Austria. He is part of the jury for several international film festivals and he also gives film workshops on different film schools.
