Pia Marais (born 1971) is a South African filmmaker based in Germany.
Early life and education Pia Marais was born in Johannesburg to a Swedish mother and South African father. She lived in South Africa, Sweden, and Spain as a child.
Marais studied sculpture and photography in London and Amsterdam as well as at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. She went on to study filmmaking at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin.
Career Marais directed four short films at the start of her career: Loop (1996), Deranged (1998), Tricky People (1999), and 17 (2003). During this time, she also worked as a casting director and script supervisor.
The Unpolished, Marais' semi-autobiographical feature directorial debut, premiered at the 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it won a Tiger Award. Her 2010 feature film, At Ellen's Age, starred Jeanne Balibar as a woman who roams the world after abandoning her former life. The film premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2010.
Marais' third feature film, the South Africa-set thriller Layla Fourie about a young mother confronting her guilt after a hit and run accident, premiered at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2013, where it was recognized with a special mention by the international jury.
In 2017, Marais became a professor at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. She was one of 45 directors from across Europe who contributed to the 2019 television documentary 24h Europe - The Next Generation.
Transamazonia, Marais' 2024 feature film about a girl in the Amazon rainforest whose father claims she is a faith healer, premiered in competition at the 77th Locarno Film Festival.
Personal life Marais resides in Berlin.
Filmography Film Year Title Notes Ref. 1996 Loop Short film 1998 Deranged Short film 1999 Tricky People Short film 2003 17 Short film 2007 The Unpolished 2010 At Ellen's Age 2013 Layla Fourie 2024 Transamazonia
Television Year Title Notes Ref. 2019 24h Europe - The Next Generation One of 45 directors involved in the documentary.
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award The Unpolished Crossing Europe Film Festival Crossing Europe Award Durban International Film Festival Best First Feature Buenos Aires International Film Festival Signis Award Cine Las Palmas Special Mention 2010 Locarno Film Festival Golden Leopard At Ellen's Age Kinofest Lünen Best Screenplay 2013 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Layla Fourie Special Mention, International Jury 2024 Locarno Film Festival Golden Leopard Transamazonia
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