Joseph Vilsmaier

The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is film. Works named in the authority record are Comedian Harmonists, Stalingrad and Marlene. Distinctions recorded are Bavarian Order of Merit, DIVA – Deutscher Entertainment Preis, Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and Bayerische Verfassungsmedaille in silver.

Born in Munich. Vilsmaier attended a boarding school near Augsburg. He then trained as a technician to make film cameras, and studied piano at the Musikhochschule München. He was a member of a jazz group. After working as a technician, he moved into film, first as a material and camera assistant, then from 1961 as a cameraman. He filmed episodes of television series such as Tatort. His debut film as director, Herbstmilch in 1988, starring his wife, Dana Vávrová, was a huge success. In 1995, he directed Schlafes Bruder, after the novel by Robert Schneider. In 1997, he directed Comedian Harmonists which became an international success. For the films he directed, Vilsmaier was also the producer and first cameraman. While filming Der Letzte Zug in 2005, probably the last film produced by Artur Brauner, he was injured when he fell off a camera tower. Subsequently, his ability to work was limited, and his wife took over directing the film. The couple was awarded the special jury prize at the 2006 Bavarian Film Awards for Der letzte Zug. Vávrová died on 5 February 2009. The couple had three daughters, Janina, Theresa, and Josefina, all of whom became actresses and starred in a number of their films. Vilsmaier died on 11 February 2020.

Vilsmaier directed films and television films, including: