Werner Herzog

German director, producer, screenwriter (born 1942)

Werner Herzog is a German filmmaker, actor, opera director, author and documentarian. Regarded as a pioneer of New German Cinema, his films often feature ambitious protagonists with impossible dreams, people with unusual talents in obscure fields, or individuals in conflict with nature. His film-making process involves avoiding storyboards, emphasizing improvisation, and placing his cast and crew into real situations mirroring those in the film on which they are working. He has received numerous accolades including a Silver Bear Award and four Awards at the Cannes Film Festival in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award.