Monika Treut

Monika Treut in 2009

Monika Treut (born April 6, 1954 in Mönchengladbach) is a German filmmaker.[1]

Biography

Monika Treut was born on April 6, 1954 in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, in what was then West Germany. She attended high school at an all-girls state school. She studied German and Political Science at university. After passing the state examination she graduated in 1978.

During her studies at university in the mid-1970s she began working with video. She worked as a media associate in Marburg, Frankfurt, and Berlin. In 1984, Treut earned her doctorate degree in philology from the University of Marburg. That same year she founded Hyena Filmproduktion together with Elfi Mikesch, and began producing, writing, and directing independent feature films. The following year Treut made her feature film debut with Seduction: The Cruel Woman, a film that explored sadomasochistic sex practices. Treut also spent time in America during the 1980s. Traveling and working in San Francisco and New York City, Treut met and worked with Annie Sprinkle and Werner Schroeter, while also producing some of her own films. These relationships led to the films Annie (documentary short), My Father is Coming and Encounter with Werner Schroeter (documentary short).

Famous for her queer films, Treut also makes documentaries. Her films have explored many interests around the world. The subject matter varies from film to film; whether queer-themed, or about one woman's efforts to help street kids in Rio de Janeiro, or about the culinary arts of Taiwan—her documentaries find interesting, real people to focus on.

Throughout her film career Treut has been involved in several aspects of filmmaking, including acting, directing, producing, writing, filming, and editing. Her film catalogue includes over 20 films, both in her native language German and in English.[2]

Works

Awards

Treut has been recognized on several occasions for her excellence in filmmaking, having taken home the following awards for her work:[3]

Humanitarian work

Treut has been involved with "PROJETO UERE", an organization founded by Yvonne Bezzerra de Mello, the subject of Treut's film Warrior of Light. "PROJETO UERE" is a program created to help the street kids of Rio de Janeiro.

Recent work

Treut's most recent film, The Raw and the Cooked, travels around Taiwan, exploring its rich culinary tradtitions and their relationship to the island's unique culture. The film also seeks out people who attempt to create a sustainable food system through innovative projects. The film had its world premiere at the Culinary Film section of the Berlin International Film Festival in February 12, 2012.[4]

Teaching

Since 1990, Treut has been teaching, lecturing and curating retrospectives of her work at colleges across the United States (Vasser, Hollins, Dartmouth), at art institutes (SFAI) and at universities (IU Bloomington,[5] UI Chicago,[6] UC San Diego [7] and Cornell U [8]).

Characteristics

Many of Treut's films focus on themes of gender roles, homosexuality, and feminism and how these personal matters are dealt with and viewed in society. Her alternative views on these issues, as well as her interest in documentaries, are characteristic of her work.

Further reading

References

http://www.imdb.de/name/nm0872331/

  1. ↑ Stuart, Jan (1998-04-28), "Don't Do It for Love", The Advocate, retrieved 2007-08-18
  2. ↑ "Biography". Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Awards". Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Berlin IFF World Premiere Announcement
  5. ↑ Article IU News Room Monika Treut Announcement
  6. ↑ UI Chicago German Department Visiting Scholars List
  7. ↑ Fall UC San Diego Course Description Taught by Treut
  8. ↑ Schedule of Teaching Events at Cornell University Fall of 2005

External links