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Burhan Qurbani

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Burhan Qurbani
برهان قربانی
Burhan Qurbani
Born (1980-11-15) 15 November 1980 (age 44)
Erkelenz, West Germany
(now Germany)
CitizenshipGerman
Alma materFilm Academy Baden-Württemberg
Occupation(s)Film director, writer, actor
Years active2006 – present
Known forShahada
Notable workShahada (film)
Illusion (2007 German short film)
20xBrandenburg

Burhan Qurbani (Persian: برهان قربانی) (born in Erkelenz on 15 November 1980) is a German film director, writer and actor of Afghan origin. His directing, writing, and acting works include Shahada (2010), 20xBrandenburg (2010 TV documentary), and Illusion (2007 short film).[1] His modern day adaption of Alfred Döblin's modern classic novel Berlin Alexanderplatz was selected for the main competition of the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

His 2025 film No Beast. So Fierce., which is loosely based on Shakespeare's drama Richard III but focusses on a strong woman in the leading role, had its premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Special section on 14 February 2025. It will be released on 8 May 2025 in the German theaters.[3][4]

Notable works

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Shahada

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Shahada is a 2010 German drama film which narrates the fates of three German-born Muslims in Berlin whose paths collide as they struggle to find a middle ground between faith and modern life in western society. The film was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.[5][6]

20xBrandenburg

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20xBrandenburg is a 16-minute German TV documentary directed by Qurbani, released in October 2010.[7]

We Are Young. We Are Strong

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We Are Young. We Are Strong (in German, Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark) is a 2014 German drama film directed by Qurbani, a fictionalized account of the 1992 xenophobic Rostock-Lichtenhagen riots. It was one of eight films shortlisted by Germany to be their submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards,[8] but it lost out to Labyrinth of Lies.[9]

Berlin Alexanderplatz

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No Beast. So Fierce.

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Awards

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The awards won by Qurbani include

  • Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas for Shahada (2010) film
  • Jury Award (Made in Hamburg), including the 2008 German Film Critics Prize for the short film Illusion (2007).[10][11]

Personal life

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Qurbani is from Afghanistan and belongs to the Hazara ethnic group. His family moved to Germany during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ "Burhan Qurbani". IMDb.
  2. ^ Kiang, Jessica (26 February 2020). "'Berlin Alexanderplatz': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. ^ Davide Abbatescianni (21 January 2025). "The Berlinale unveils the titles playing in its Competition and its Perspectives and Berlinale Special strands". Cineuropa. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  4. ^ Ntim, Zac (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Richard Linklater, Jessica Chastain, A$AP Rocky & Marion Cotillard Movies Among Vibrant Selection". Deadline. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Programme 2010".
  6. ^ Marsh, Sarah (17 February 2010). "Film explores Muslims struggling with life in West". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  7. ^ "20xBrandenburg (TV Movie 2010) - IMDb". IMDb.
  8. ^ "Germany Picks Final Eight Titles to Vie for Oscar Submission". IndieWire. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  9. ^ Roxborough, Scott (27 August 2015). "Oscars: Germany Picks 'Labryinth of Lies' for Foreign Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Burhan Qurbani | the Jerusalem International Film Lab". Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Burhan Qurbani". IMDb.
  12. ^ "Hazara filmmaker Burhan Qurbani directed a prize-winning film". 7 November 2010.
  13. ^ Slackman, Michael (17 October 2010). "With Film, Afghan-German is a Foreigner at Home". The New York Times.
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