Leben und Karriere
Uwe Boll began his filmmaking journey by producing short films on Super 8 and video during his youth. He first attended film schools in Munich and Vienna, focusing on film directing, and then studied business administration and literature in Cologne and Siegen. In 1994, he received his doctorate in literary studies from the University of Siegen with a thesis titled “The Series as a Genre and Its Genres,” earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Boll’s early directing works include the films “German Fried Movie” and “Barschel – Murder in Geneva?” He also authored a book titled “German Fried Movie & Barschel Murder in Geneva or How You Have to Make Films in Germany.” In 1991, Boll co-founded a film production and distribution company with his partner Frank Lustig, which he took over as the sole owner and managing director in 1998. From 1994 to 2000, he also served as a producer and director at Taunusfilm and as managing director of TaunusFilm International in Wiesbaden.
Boll’s first three major films as writer, producer, and director were the thriller “Sanctimony” with Caspar Van Dien, the horror film “Blackwoods,” and the drama “Heart of America” with Elisabeth Moss.
In 2003, Boll directed his first video game adaptation, “House of the Dead.” From 2000 to 2007, his films were financed through his own investment funds. Boll often shoots his films in Vancouver, Canada, but also works in various countries, including South Africa, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. During this period, Boll became known as the number one director for films based on video games. His films “Alone in the Dark” with Christian Slater and Stephen Dorff, “BloodRayne” with Kristanna Loken, Michelle Rodriguez, Sir Ben Kingsley, Geraldine Chaplin, Billy Zane, and Udo Kier, “Dungeon Siege – In the Name of the King” with Jason Statham, Claire Forlani, Burt Reynolds, and Ron Perlman, “Far Cry” with Til Schweiger, and “Postal” with J.K. Simmons, Zack Ward, and Dave Foley had worldwide theatrical releases. As of 2014, Boll holds the world record as the director with the most films based on video games, having produced a total of ten such films.
Since 2005, Boll has been active in global film distribution. To support this, he founded Boll AG in Germany, which was listed on the stock exchange in 2006, and Event Film Distribution Inc. in Canada. Boll markets not only the international film rights to his own productions but also films from third parties, such as “One Way” with Til Schweiger and the successful Russian film “Prince of Demons” (Viy).
In autumn 2010, the film biography “Max Schmeling – A German Legend” was released in German cinemas, featuring former German light heavyweight world champion Henry Maske in the title role. The production was initiated by two anonymous Hamburg millionaires who aimed to create a memorial for Schmeling. The film was sold worldwide and aired on numerous television channels in the USA, including SHOWTIME.
Uwe Boll regularly shares his knowledge through seminars, including at the Munich Film School.
In 2011, Boll released the film “Blubberella,” which offered a satirical perspective on superhero films while also providing a critical examination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
From 2010 on, Boll focused less on video game movies and more on politically or historically driven movies like “1968 – Tunnel Rats” about the Vietnam War, “Darfur” about the genocide in Sudan, “Assault on Wall Street” about the 2008 bailouts, “Stoic” about the jail system, and the trilogy “Rampage” about a domestic terrorist.
In March 2021, Boll caused a stir when it was announced that he wanted to film the racially motivated attack in Hanau on February 19, 2020, as the starting point for his planned trilogy “Germany in Winter.” The city of Hanau and family members of the victims called on Boll in a public letter to refrain from the project, but at that time the film was already produced. Boll defended the film project, emphasizing that the act “made clear the dangers posed by growing right-wing extremism and increasing conspiracy theories. It is therefore important to address the issue.”
In 2023, Boll directed and produced the crime drama “First Shift” starring Kristen Renton and Gino Anthony Pesi. The film follows the journey of two contrasting NYPD officers on their first day as colleagues. Boll worked with Ethan Maniquis in post-production on “First Shift,” along with executive producer Michael Roesch. In October, Quiver Distribution secured rights to “First Shift” in the US, Canada, and select international territories.
In April 2024, Boll shot the film “RUN” about the European migration crisis with Hollywood stars like Amanda Plummer, James Russo, Barkhad Abdi, Ulrich Thomsen, Costas Mandylor, Sammy Sheigh, and Kristen Renton.