Bio/Curriculum Vitae

- Ralf Schmerberg was born on the 28th of January 1965 in Suttgart, Germany.

Until 1987 he spent his time as a globetrotter with longer stays in the USA and India.

In 1987, he began taking photos as an autodidact.

In 1994 and once more autodidactically, he approached the film medium.

In the music video business he became one of the most sought after directors in Germany.

In 1996, he founded the film production company "Trigger Happy Productions" in Stuttgart and produced the poetic documentary film "Hommage à Noir". 1997.

Move from Stuttgart to Berlin. 1999/2000

Ralf Schmerberg realises the feature film project "Poem."

He has received numerous awards for his photographic work since 1989, including distinctions from the ADC Germany as well as a Kodak Newcomer's Prize, and he has exhibited in Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and Hamburg.

He has directed several TV and cinema commercials as well as music videos for such performers as Die Toten Hosen, Die Fantastischen Vier and Chaka Khan.

He made his feature directorial debut in 1995 with Hommage à Noir, which was presented with a Certificate of Merit at the 1996 Chicago International Film Festival and two Gold Medals at the New York Film Festival in 1997.

Hommage à Noir was also nominated for the UNESCO Award.

Information about the Film Hommage à Noir

Documentary Director: Ralf Schmerberg
Screenplay: Ralf Schmerberg
Director of photography: Franz Lustig
Editors: Ralf Schmerberg, Franz Lustig
Music by: Ralf Hildenbeutel
Producers: Ralf Schmerberg, Sigrid Maier-Schönung, Jörg Bittel
Production Company: Trigger Happy Productions, Stuttgart, in co-production with Markenfilm, Hamburg and Galerie Peter Herrmann Length: 47,30 min., 1.500 m
Format: 35 mm, b/w
Sound Technology: Optical Dolby SR

Prizes/Awards

-Certificate of Merit - Chicago Festival - New York Film festival
Goldmedal for humanities "Hommage à Noir"
Goldmedal for Soundtrack "Hommage à Noir"
Certificate for cultural issues "Hommage à Noir"
- Nomination for UNESCO Award "Hommage à Noir" - Award to the best documentary "Hommage à Noir"
International Cinema Festival Elche
- Prize to the most original documentary "Hommage à Noir" International Short Film
Festival ALTER-NATIVE 5, T"argu-Mures Rumania
- The Deimagine Iosif Demian Prize DaKINOInternational Filmfestival, Rumania
- German Camera Prize award for Franz Lustig, Photokina, Cologne
Screening International Karlovy Vary International Filmfestival
Competitive Festival (FIAPF) Juli1997
St. Petersburg International Documentary Film Festival
Competitive Festival (FIAPF) Juli1997
Internacional Festival Independante Filmfestival Elche
Competitive Festival July 1997 Flanders International Filmfestival Non Competitive Specialized Festival "Filmspectrum a Panorama World Cinema (FIAPF) October 1997
Mostra Internacional de Cinema Sao Paulo(Brazil)
Competitive Specialized Festival (FIAPF) October 1997
Leeds International Film Festival (Great Britian)
Non Competitive Festival October 1997 Murphy `s 42 nd Cork Film Festival (Ireland)
Non Competitive Festival October 1997 Hollywood Filmfestival
- Hollywood Discovery Awards Finalist October 1997
Mar del Plata International Film Festival(Argentien)
Documentary Window Section (FIAPF) November 1997
International Short Film Festival ALTER-NATIVE 5 (Romania) Festival November 1997
7th DaKINO International Filmfestival (Romania) Festival November 1997
Filmfestival Max Oph?ls Preis Perspektiven des jungen deutschsprachigen Films January 1998
Göteborg Filmfestival Festival January 1998
International Visual Arts Festival Ungarn
Festival April 1998
Urbanworld Filmfestival New York Festival August 1998
International Short Filmfestival Los Angeles Festival September 1998

1989
Prizes/Awards:
- ADC Germany, two awards

1990
Prizes/Awards:
- Kodak youth promotion prize

1992
Exhibitions:
- Frankfurt: International Salon for Photography,"The Tribe of White Warriors"

Projects:
- "Portraits of dead pieces of plants"

Prizes/Awards:
- ADC Germany, award
- Berliner Type in bronze

1993
Exhibitions:
- Frankfurt: Hall of art Schirn, "Views of Alexandra S.", Exhibition participation
- Frankfurt: Museum of arts and crafts,"Modern fashion photography contemporary" Exhibition participation

Projects:
- Stuttgart Ballet's company book

Prizes/Awards:
- Berliner Type in gold

1994
Exhibitions:
- Stuttgart: Gallery Peter Herrmann, "The Tribe of White Warriors" - Munich: Gallery Kunstnetzwerk,"The Tribe of White Warriors"

Prizes/Awards:
- ADC Germany, silver medal and 4 awards
- ADC Europe, bronze medal and 3 awards
- Polaroid European Final Award: 3rd prize
- Type Director's Club New York, award
- Kodak Work Book, bronze category print media

1995
Exhibitions:
- Hamburg: Museum of ethnologie ,"The Tribe of White Warriors"
- Salem: Castle Salem, Ars Spectaculum, "The Tribe of White Warriors",Exhibition participation
- Munich: Gallery Kunstnetzwerk, Exhibition of the year, Exhibition participation
- Hamburg: Museum of art and trade, "Erotic Photography in Germany", Exhibition participation

Projects:
- Directed several TV-Spots
- Directed Election campaign "Die Grünen" for cinemas and TV
- Directed video clip: Die Fantastischen Vier "Sie ist Weg"
- Directed video clip: Die Fantastischen Vier "Populär"
- Directed video clip: "Oregon People ,Oregon Jeans"
- Directed and produced project "Hommage á Noir", Cameroon

Prizes/Awards:
- Advertisement yearbook: campaign of the year for Mustang "Oregon"
- Berliner Type in silver
- ADC Germany, 5 awards
- Silver Effi for DeTe Mobil campaign
- Video clip of the year for WDR, "Sie ist weg"
- Golden record for the Musicclip "Sie ist weg" by Die Fantastischen Vier

1996
Exhibitions:
- Berlin: PPS gallery, "The Tribe of the White Warriors"
- Munich: Gallery Kunstnetzwerk, "When Pictures are speaking", portraits of "Hommage à Noir", Exhibition participation

Projects:
- Directed video clip: Die Toten Hosen"Bonnie & Clyde"
- Directed video clip: Thumb "The Red Alert"
- Directed video clip: Die Fantastischen Vier "Nur in deinem Kopf"
- Directed video clip: Die Fantastischen Vier "Raus"
- Directed video clip: Chaka Khan "Never miss the water"
- Directed several TV-Spots

Prizes/Awards:
- Echo Award for Video of the year, 1995 "Sie ist weg"
- ADC Germany: silver medal for Kodak professional campaign
- MTV Video Music Awards N.Y., MTV European Choice Award at the 1996 Nomination with "Sie ist weg" Die Fantastischen Vier
- Chicago Film Festival: Certificate of Merit for "Hommage à Noir"
- Bronze medal, 1st Kodak Panther Work Book

1997
Exhibitions:
- Stuttgart: Gallery Peter Herrmann,"The Tribe of White Warriors"
- Munich: Gallery Kunstnetzwerk, Exhibition participation, portraits of "Hommage à Noir"

Projects:
- Directed video clip: Dune "Sombedody
- Directed video clip: Thumb "Seize the day"
- Directed video clip: Die Toten Hosen "Pushed Again"
- Directed several TV- and Cinema-Spots, among others: Nike "Basketball", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam MDR "Sputnik", Agency: Melle Pufe, Berlin Afri Cola, Agency: Melle Pufe, Berlin

Prizes/Awards:
- New York Film festival Goldmedal for humanities "Hommage à Noir" Goldmedal for Soundtrack "Hommage ? Noir" Certificate for cultural issues "Hommage à Noir"
- Nomination for UNESCO Award "Hommage à Noir"
- Award to the best documentary "Hommage à Noir" International Cinema Festival Elche
- Echo Award for Video of the year, 1996 " Zehn kleine Jägermeister"
- Prize to the most original documentary "Hommage à Noir" International Short Film Festival ALTER-NATIVE 5, T'argu-Mures Rumänien
- The Deimagine Iosif Demian Prize DaKINOInternational Filmfestival, Rumänien

International Competition / Screening "Hommage à Noir"
- Karlovy Vary Film Festival Prague
- Czech Republic
- Message to man International Film Festival St. Petersburg
- Russia - Independent Film Festival Elche - Spain
- Flanders International Filmfestival
- Mostra Internacional de Cinema Sao Paulo (Brazil)
- Leeds International Filmfestival (Great Britain)
- Murphy's 42nd Cork Filmfestival (Ireland)
- Hollywood Filmfestival
- Hollywood Discovery Awards, Finalist October 1997
- Mar del Plata International Filmfestival (Argentinien), Documentary Window Section
- International Short Film Festival ALTER-NATIVE 5 (Romania)
- 7th DaKINO International Filmfestival (Romania)

1998
Projects:
- Directed video clip: Hausmarke "Turntable Rocker"
- Directed short film and video clip: Die Toten Hosen/Die Roten Rosen "Weihnachtsmann vom Dach"
- Directed several TV and Cinema-Spots, among others: Lufthansa, Agency: Springer & Jacoby, Hamburg Smart, Agency: Weber Hodel Schmid, Zürich Benelli Italy, Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Adesemi "Romantic Interlude", Agency: Hill Holiday, Boston Nike "Horse", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Nike "Los Toros", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland Nike "Michael Jordan", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland

Prizes/Awards:
- Nomination Internatinal Advertizing Festival Cannes for "The New Directors Showcase" by Saatchi & Saatchi
- New York Clio-Award in bronze for the Nike Commercial "Invitation"
- Creativity 28, gold medal for Schiesser TV-Commercials
- German Camera prize for "Hommage à Noir" for Franz Lustig, Photokina, Cologne

International Competition/Screening "Hommage à Noir"
- Festival Max Ophüls Prize , Perspectives Of The New German Films
- Filmfestival Göteborg
- International Visual Arts Festival Ungarn
- Urbanworlds Filmfestival New York
- International Short Filmfestival Los Angeles

1999
Exhibitions:
- Wiesbaden, Gallery Thalhaus, "The Tribe of White Warriors", photographs by Ralf Schmerberg during the series of exhibitions "local-global"
- New York, PaceWildensteinMacGill Gallery, film and photography exhibition "Hommage à Noir"

Projects:
- Directed Videoclips-Trilogy: Die Fantastischen Vier "Michi Beck In Hell", "Buenos Dias Messias" and "Le Smou"
- Directed several TV and Cinema-Spots, among others: HypoVereinsbank, Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Mastercard "The Spirit of Youth", Agency: McCann-Erickson, New York Timberland "Tree TV", Agency: Martin Agency, Boston "Nike Town", Agnecy: Wieden & Kennedy, London HypoVereinsbank "Planet", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Nike "Psalm 23" with Chamique Holdsclaw, Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland "The Blind Man" for the City of Paris, Agency: BL/LB Le Burnett, Levallois Gatorate, Agency: Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago Nike "Lance Armstrong", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland

Prizes/Awards:
- "Die Klappe 1998" : 3 times in bronze for Schiesser-Underwear "S-Bahn", Lufthansa New York" and Smart "Männer zeigen Frauen/Silence/Faszination"
- Adweek?s best spots of 1998 chose: Best campaign of the year: Nike "What are you getting ready For?" - including Schmerberg Nike "Los Toros"
- Moscow International Advertising Festival, 1st place for Schiesser TV-Commercial "Buchh?ndlerin"
- First German Video Award, category: Best Cinematographie for Hausmarke "Turntablerocker", Camera: Ralf Schmerberg und Franz Lustig
- ADC Germany: 1 Bronze-Medal category TV-Spot for Nike "Horse" campaign 1 Bronze-Medal category TV-Spot for Lufthansa "New York, New York" 1 Bronze-Medal category Cinema-Spots for Lufthansa "New York, New York"
- The 78th Annual Art Directors Club Awards: 1 Merit for Nike "Los Toros"
- One Show Award: 1 Silver-Medal, category Consumer, TV over :30 Single: Nike "Los Toros" 1 Silver-Medal, category Consumer, TV over :30 Campaign: Nike "Los Toros" (Meat, Marathon Man)
- Cannes Lions 1999: 1 Silver Lion for the TV-Spot Lufthansa "New York, New York"
- The 1999 American Advertising Awards: 1 Addy for Nike/Training "Bulls" ("Los Toros") Single spot 1 Addy for Nike/Training "Bulls" ("Los Toros") + "Meat", "Marathon Man", for the campaign
- 1 Gold WorldMedal New York Festival "Television and Cinema Advertising", Category: Banking/Financial Services/Insurance, for the Campaign Mastercard "Seafoam"/ "Happy"/"Spirit Of Youth", Directors: Melody McDaniel/Existing/Ralf Schmerberg

Others:
- Member of the Art Directors Club Germany
- Restaurant The One-Week-Restaurant "Adieu Mitte"

2000
Exhibitions:
- Berlin, Exhibition participation: Asian Fine Arts Berlin Prüss & Ochs Gallery "Body Faces Icons"
- Stuttgart, Exhibition participation: Gallery Peter Herrmann "Über-Blick ? Künstler der Galerie"

Projects:
- Directed several TV- and Cinema-spots, among others: HypoVereinsbank "Real Estate 2000", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Travel Channel "Beach Week", without Agency Samuel Adams "Around The World", Agency: The McCarthy Co., New York Baccardi "Taxi", Agentur: Amster Yard, New York Mastercard "Circus", Agentur: McCann-Erickson, New York Nike ? Nakata / Silent Training, Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland

Prizes/Awards:
- "Die Klappe 1999" : 1 time in silver for HypoVereinsbank "Planet"
- Cresta Award 1999, Category: Cinema/TV for MasterCard "Spirith of Youth"
- ADC Germany: Bronze Category TV-Spots for the HypoVereinsbank Campaign "Different Planet", "Homework", "Family Planning"

Others:
- Member of the Directors Guild of America

2001
Exhibitions:
- Exhibitions Opening Galerie Peter Herrmann, Berlin: "Überblick ? 10 Künstler der Galerie" ("View - 10 Artists of the Gallery"), among others with Chéri Samba
- Los Angeles, Exhibition participation: Galeriy miauhaus: "the good the bad and the ugly, among others with work of the artists Joseph Beuys, Walter Dahn, Joerg Immendorf, Katharina Sieverding

Projects:
- Directed Video clip: 2 Raum Wohnung "Nimm mich mit"
- Directed Video clip: 2-Raum Wohnung "Sexy Girl"
- Directed Video clip: Die Toten Hosen "Was zählt"
- Directed several TV- and Cinema-spots, among others: Nike "Women - I sweat", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland HypoVereinsbank "Bumpers
- Jürgen Vogel", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam Coca Cola ""Spanish Wedding", "Dreamers", Agency: Amster Yard, New York Sony Playstation
- Grand Turismo 3, 6 Spots, Agency: TBWA/Chiat/Day, San Francisco Southern Comfort "You can't stop the party", Agency: Philipp und Keuntje, Hamburg HypoVereinsbank "Goodbye D-Mark", Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam John Hancock ""Gabriella", "Dinner", Agency: Hill | Holliday

Prizes/Awards:
- Golden Record for the Musicclip trilogy "Michi Beck in hell", "Le Smou" and "Buenos Dias Messias", Die Fantastischen Vier
- ADC Germany: Award for HypoVereinsbank "Real Estate"

2002
Exhibitions:
- Berlin, Single Exhibition Galery Peter Herrmann: Ralf Schmerberg: "Hommage à Noir"
- The Film - The Portrait photographs, digital prints on hand-made paper

Projects:
- Directed Video clip: 2 Raum Wohnung "Freie Liebe"
- Directed Video clip: Marius Müller-Westernhagen "Es ist an der Zeit"
- Directed several TV- and Cinema-spots, among others: American Express "Innovation", "Exports", "Cyberspace", "Customer Service", Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, New York Startz! Super Pak, 4 Spots, "The Guffaw", "The Wooaahh", "Lump in the throat", "Variety", Agency: TBWA Chiat/Day, San Francisco HypoVereinsbank "Bumpers 2002" with Lieselotte Pulver & Jürgen Vogel, Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam United Nations "UN Kids/Aids", Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago Nissan "Shift", Agency: TBWA/CHIAT/DAY, Los Angeles Applied Materials "New China", Agency: Whitty Hannell & Partners, San Francisco HP "Anthems", Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partner, San Francisco VW Touareg, Agency: Grabarz & Partner, Hamburg HP "Wind", Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partner, San Francisco

Prizes/Awards:
- Die Klappe (slade) 2001: 1 Slade in silver for HypoVereinsbank "Movie Bumpers - Jürgen Vogel" 2001, 1 Slade in bronze for HypoVereinsbank "Goodbye D-Mark"
- ADC Germany Ruhm und Ehre 2002: Bronze for HypoVereinsbank "Goodbye D-Mark" and bronze for HypoVereinsbank "Movie Bumpers ? Jürgen Vogel"
- vdw award 2002: HypoVereinsbank "Goodbye D-Mark", winner in the category "Bester Werbefilm" (best Commercial)
- The Gold Bell for "UN Kids/Aids" from the AD Council for creative excellence to Leo Burnett USA

2003
Exhibitions:
- Berlin, Prüss & Ochs Gallery Berlin "Ralf Schmerberg: Berlinale Special "Salon Poem" among others with Fang Lijun, China, Yang Shaobin, China, Yue Minjun, China
- Pirmasens, Exhibition participation: Neuffer am Park, Bernd D. Hummer
- Prüss & Ochs Gallery Berlin "Der Rest der Welt" (The Rest of the World), among others with Ik-Joong Kang, Korea, Coco K?hn, Germany, Fang Lijun, China, Tracey Moffatt, Australia, Ch?ri Samba, Congo

Projects:
- Directed Video clip: Michael Franti "Bomb the World"
- Directed several TV- and Cinema-spots, among others: Fleet Bank "Looking Forward", "Visions", "Where we live", Agency: Hill Holliday, Boston Motorola, Agency: Ogilvy, Culver City CA and Paris Choice Hotels "Out of the Office", "The Ballad of the Souvenir", "Bumper Stickers", Agency: Arnold Communications, VA Nikon "2004ography", Agency: McCann-Erickson, New York United Nations Aids PSA "School", Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago BMW, Agency: Jung von Matt, Hamburg
- Completion of the feature film "Poem "Ich setzte den Fuss in die Luft, und sie trug" (Hilde Domin) ["Poem "I set my foot in the air, and it carried me" (Hilde Domin)] and world premiere in cooperation with the Berlinale (International Filmfestival Berlin) on February 8th 2003. In German cinemas as of May 8th 2003.

Prizes/Awards:
- ADC Germany 2003: Bronze for VW Touareg "Wer auch immer" and bronze for HypoVereinsbank "Movie Bumpers 2002 Liselotte Pulver/Jürgen Vogel"
- 2003 International Andy Award: Richard T. O'Reilly Public Service Award for the PSA "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids") (best of show PSA) and Distinctions for PSA, Cinematography and Music
- Addy Awards: 2 times gold for "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids") categories Public Service (PSA) and Integrated Campaign
- Clio Awards: silver for "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids")category PSA and bronze category Editing, shortlisted for Direction
- ADC New York: "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids") 1 Distinctive Merit Award
- AICP Awards: Shortlisted - "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids")
- Chicago International Television Awards: Shortlisted - "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids")
- International Cannes Festival, shortlisted HP "Wind" and "Under Five" (United Nations "UN Kids/Aids")
- vdw award 2003: best Styling / Set Design for United Nations Aids PSA "Kids" best Camera for Hewlett Packard "The Wind" (Darius Khondji)
- London International Ad Awards: Winner Category Cinematography: United Nations Foundation "Under Five"(United Nations "UN Kids/Aids")
- at the 9th Annual Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, San Francisco: honored with Audience Award for "Poem"

International Competition/Screening: "Poem "Ich setzte den Fuß in die Luft und sie trug (von Hilde Domin) ["Poem "I set my foot upon the air and it carried me (by Hilde Domin)"]
Screenings
- World premiere in cooperation with the Berlinale (International Filmfestival Berlin)
- Lyric poets meeting M?nster "Poetryfilm" a recent genre of the literature
- Festival Poetry International Rotterdam "Film & Poetry"
- Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes Rotterdam
- AFI Festival 2003 ? 4th annual Festival of German Cinema Los Angeles