Oliver Paulus (born 1969 in Dornach, Canton of Solothurn) is a Swiss film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor, known for films such as Tandoori Love (2008) and Vielen Dank für Nichts (2013).
Life and career Oliver Paulus attended the Schule für Gestaltung Basel from 1989 to 1992. He subsequently completed internships and worked as an assistant director in Basel, Zürich, Cologne, and Düsseldorf. From 1994 to 1998, he studied directing and screenwriting at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg.
From the mid-1990s onward, Paulus directed several short films. His short film His Mother's Voice received the award for Best Short Film at the Max Ophüls Preis in 1995. In 1997, he was awarded the Werkjahrespreis of the Canton of Solothurn. His short film Die Wurstverkäuferin was nominated for the Swiss Film Award in 2002 and received the Audience Award at the International Short Film Festival Hamburg in 2001.
Paulus made his feature film debut in 2003 together with Stefan Hillebrand with the romantic comedy Wenn der Richtige kommt. In the following years, he continued to collaborate with Hillebrand on films including Wir werden uns wiederseh'n (2006), Tandoori Love (2008), Vielen Dank für Nichts (2013), Making a Change (2018), and Level Up Your Life (2018).
In 2008, Paulus directed Tandoori Love, a Swiss-Austrian-German comedy with Bollywood elements. The film received the award for Best Artistic Contribution at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2008. In 2009, Marcel Vaid won the Prix SUISA at the Locarno Film Festival for the film's music. Critics described the film as a culture-clash comedy combining Swiss Alpine settings with Bollywood motifs.
Vielen Dank für Nichts had its world premiere in 2013. In 2014, it won the Premio Giuria Fuori le Mura and the Castello d'Argento at the Castellinaria Festival internazionale del cinema giovane in Bellinzona. Critics described the film as an underdog comedy dealing with disability.
Bernadette will töten premiered in January 2025. Paulus co-directed the Swiss-Austrian-Polish production with Robert Herzl and was also involved as a producer.
Selected filmography 1995: His Mother's Voice (director) 2001: Die Wurstverkäuferin (director) 2003: Wenn der Richtige kommt (co-director, with Stefan Hillebrand) 2006: Wir werden uns wiederseh'n (co-director) 2008: Tandoori Love (co-director) 2013: Vielen Dank für Nichts (co-director) 2018: Making a Change (co-director) 2018: Level Up Your Life (co-director) 2025: Bernadette will töten (co-director)
Awards and nominations 1995: Best Short Film at the Max Ophüls Preis for His Mother's Voice 1997: Werkjahrespreis of the Canton of Solothurn 2001: Audience Award at the International Short Film Festival Hamburg for Die Wurstverkäuferin 2002: Nomination for the Swiss Film Award for Die Wurstverkäuferin 2008: Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Cairo International Film Festival for Tandoori Love 2009: Prix SUISA at the Locarno Film Festival for the music of Tandoori Love 2014: Premio Giuria Fuori le Mura for Vielen Dank für Nichts 2014: Castello d'Argento for Vielen Dank für Nichts
External links Swiss Films filmportal.de
Official website
References