War Photographer (War Photographer)

Christian Frei

In one of the world’s countless crisis areas, surrounded by suffering, death, violence and chaos, photographer James Nachtwey searches for the picture he thinks he can publish. A movie about a committed, shy man who is considered one of the bravest and most important war photographers of our time – but hardly fits the cliché of the hard-boiled war veteran.

2001, '96

DIRECTOR: Christian Frei

SCENARIO: Christian Frei

CAMERA: Peter Indergand, Patrick Lindenmaier (Picture Design), Florian Eidenbenz (Sound Design)

MONTAGE: Christian Frei

MUSIC: Eleni Karaindrou, Arvo Pärt, David Darling

PRODUCERS: Christian Frei

PRODUCTION: Christian Frei Filmproductions, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen

FESTIVALS & AWARDS:

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, 2002
Peabody Award (2003): Winner
Adolf Grimme Preis (2003): Winner
Sichuan TV Festival (2023): Gold Panda for Best Documentary
Documentary Filmfestival Gent (2002): Canvas-Prize for the Best Film
doc aviv Tel Aviv IDFF (2002): Best Film
Encounters: South African IDF (2002): Jameson Audience Award
Cologne Conference GmbH (2002): Phoenix-Preis Best Non-Fiction
Osaka European FF (2002): City of Osaka Award
Phoenix-Dokumentarfilmpreis (2002)
Durban IFF (2002): Best Documentary
European DFF Oslo (2003): Eurodok Award
Dokufest (2003): Best Film
Rehoboth Beach IFF (2002): Audience Award

Christian Frei

Swiss director and producer Christian Frei is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and compelling voices in contemporary documentary filmmaking. He received an Academy Award nomination for War Photographer (2001) and won the World Cinema Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival for Space Tourists (2009). Four films he produced premiered in competition at Sundance, where Genesis 2.0 (2018) was awarded the Special Jury Award for Cinematography. From the very beginning of his career, Frei established a reputation as an exacting documentarian with a keen understanding of his subjects. His films are known for their humanistic perspective and universal themes, combining visual precision with a subtle yet persistent curiosity about the human condition. As a producer, Christian Frei released Raving Iran (2016), Saudi Runway (2020) and Girl Gang (2022), directed by Susanne Regina Meures. Frei served as an Associate Lecturer in Reflection Competence at the University of St. Gallen from 2006 to 2023. From 2010 to 2022 he served as President of the Swiss Film Academy.