Biography

Jan Gassmann is a director based in Zürich. His first feature documentary CHRIGU premiered at the 57. Berlinale and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. The movie traveled the world and among others, won the «Filmcritics Switzerland Prize». In 2011 followed his first feature fiction film OFF BEAT. It premiered at the 61. Berlinale, Panorama and was nominated for «Best Camera» by the swiss film academy in 2012. With his next documentary KARMA SHADUB, he won together with Ramon Giger the Grand-Prix of the international Competition at Visions du Réel, Nyon, 2013. His next fiction film HEIMATLAND, a collaborative work, premiered in the International Competition at Locarno Filmfestival 2015 and won the Zurich and Bern Filmprize and got nominated for Best Film by the Swiss Film Academy. EUROPE, SHE LOVES his latest feature, opened the Berlinale Panorama 2016 followed by a worldwide festival career. This sex, drugs and politics documentary about four couples at the borders of Europe, was selected for the European Film Prize and won several national and international prizes.