Jan Bolender was born and studied in Mainz, worked as an assistant director in Berlin and finally did his Master of Arts in film directing in Hamburg. In 2014 his feature film “Der Sieger in Dir” was screened on ZDF. 2017 he staged his first theatre play “Life is a bitch — oder wie ich gestern meine Zukunft fand”. Since he’s 16 Jan is painting and has had exhibitions in Mainz, Frankfurt a. Main and Berlin. He is working and living in Berlin.
EDUCATION
2005 diploma in graphic design at FH Mainz
2006-08 1st and 2nd AD for several TV Movies and shorts
2010 Master of Arts in film directing at Hamburg Media School
directing/ acting and camera courses with Stefan Krohmer, Friedemann Fromm, Götz Spielmann, Frank Betzelt, Kai-Ivo Baulitz, Michael Ballhaus, Jo Heim, Mareike Fell a.o.
TEACHING
2010 film project at Leuphana university Lüneburg
2013 film course at FH Mainz
WORKS
films
error 415: love (2016)
Der Sieger in Dir/ The winner within (ZDF, 2012)
Freigänger/ Walk free (short, 2010)
Weiter laufen / can’t stop running (short, 2008)
Gefunden/ Traced (short, 2008)
else (short, 2008)
7 (short, 2005)
Nachbarn/ neighbours (short, 2004)
Der letzte Soldat/ the last soldier (short, 2004)
the films have been screened at more than 60 festivals around the world
theatre
Life is a bitch — oder wie ich gestern meine Zukunft fand (script and director, Vaganten Bühne Berlin, 2017)
Das Geheimnis der Irma Vep (director, Vaganten Bühne Berlin, 2017)
Hard Candy (director 2nd phase, Uferhallen Berlin, 2015)
radio plays
Monte Velho (2019)
Der Betonflüsterer (2018)
exhibitions of paintings (since 2006)
l’Atelier, Berlin
Galerie Dikmayer, Berlin: group exhibition
Markus-Krankenhaus Frankfurt a. Main
Landgericht Mainz
Parkhotel Nierstein
Weinhaus Weinel, Mainz
Galerie in der Römerpassage, Mainz: group exhibition
Praxis Dr. L. Riedel, Mainz
PRIZES and NOMINATIONS
2019 prize for best radio play at Leipziger Hörspielsommer for “Der Betonflüsterer”
2018 1st prize at Berliner Hörspielfestival in section “das kurze brennende Mikro” for “Der Betonflüsterer”
2017 1st prize in competition “Dekalog” of the Guardini foundation for “Der Sieger in Dir”
2012/13: EATC Writing Bursary for the script of „Der Sieger in Dir“
2011: nomination for best short of Max-Ophuels-Preis 2011 for „Freigänger“; 2nd prize best script, Lions International Short Film Contest, Istanbul for „Freigänger“
2010: Batiplus Award of the Aesthetism, Time Film Festival Lausanne for „Weiterlaufen“; prize of the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Rheinland-Pfalz for „Weiterlaufen“; 2nd prize best short FILMZ Festival Mainz for „Weiterlaufen“
2005: 1st prize in the competition „Nachhaltigkeit“ of the Fraport AG for „Nachbarn“