Peter Sempel is an acclaimed German filmmaker, photographer, and music video director. Born in 1967 in Hamburg, Germany, Sempel is best known for his visually stunning documentaries and experimental films.
Sempel’s first feature-length documentary “Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel” (“The Story of the Weeping Camel”) premiered in 2003 and won numerous awards, including the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film tells the story of a family of Mongolian nomads and their efforts to save a rare white camel calf.
In addition to documentary films, Sempel is also celebrated for his creative music videos and commercials. He’s directed clips for the likes of David Bowie, U2, and the Rolling Stones. He also directed the music video for Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence,” which won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 1991.
Sempel’s other works include the feature-length documentaries “Jahrhundertfrauen” (“Century Women”), “Leben drehen” (“Turning Life”) and “Das Wunder von Lengede” (“The Miracle of Lengede”). He also released a photography book, “Neun” in 2009.
Sempel’s works are often praised for their visual beauty, and he has been lauded by both critics and audiences alike. He has also been honored with numerous awards including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Documentary in 2002 and the German Film Award in 2004.
Sempel continues to make creative and visually stunning films, and is considered one of Germany’s most talented filmmakers. He is currently in pre-production on his next film, a documentary about a German artist living in the Amazon rainforest.
