KATHARINA KEIL

AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR

Filmography

The Release (2026)

A short comedy-drama exploring family tension, emotional release, and the moments that quietly change us.
Recently completed in Western Australia. Currently in festival submissions, including Tropfest 2026.


Opa-Pappou (2024)

A tender, tri-lingual (English / German / Greek) coming-of-age drama about a young girl navigating guilt, superstition, and loss after a family tragedy.

Awards

  • Jury Award – Best Short Screenplay, London Women Film Festival 2025
  • Global Shorts - Winner Award of Excellence 2025

Official Selections / Nominations

  • Canada International Children's Film Festival 2025 - World Premiere
  • Semi-Finalist Flickers' Rhodes Island International Film Festival 2025
  • Indie European Cinema & Screenplay Festival (Nominee)
  • Deutscher Kurzfilmpreis 2025 (in consideration)
  • Multiple international festival selections (results pending)

Waves (2022)

A sweet and sardonic two-minute comedy about two old friends, Sam and Ethel, reconnecting over a drinking game at their local beach.

Awards

  • Best Female Filmmaker – FilmOneFest (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
  • Best 2-Minute Film – Canberra Short Film Festival
  • Best Super Short – Cannes World Film Festival
  • Best Director (Super Short) – Cannes World Film Festival
  • Best Acting Duo – Cannes World Film Festival
  • Best Director – Brussels Short Film Festival
  • Best Cinematography (Short Film) – LA Cinematography Awards
  • Best Editing (Short Film) – LA Cinematography Awards
  • Best Cheery Film – Short Film Factory
  • Best Short Form Film – Feedback Female Film Festival
  • Best Script – Stockholm Short Festival

Official Selections / Finalist
Uppsala Short Film Festival, Flickerfest, CinefestOZ, Berlin Lift-Off (Finalist), Sydney Lift-Off, LA Comedy 365, Berlin Indie Film Festival, Mirada Corta (Finalist), Short Filmz (Finalist), Tokyo Shorts (Semi-Finalist), NY International Women Festival (Semi-Finalist), Cannes Indie Shorts (Semi-Finalist)


Danger Spot (2004)

A sharp comedy about a date gone wrong in the search for the “perfect spot.”
Shot on Super 16mm with a professional crew.

Official Selection

  • Tropfest 2004 – Best of the Rest (Top 50 of 760 entries)

Sweetest Ride (1998)

A playful short inspired by a gambler’s misadventures in Las Vegas.
Shot on DV with friends and entered into Tropfest 1998.


Hackfleisch (1997)

A darkly comic three-minute short about Norman preparing dinner for his mother - mince being her favourite.
Shot on 16mm using short ends.

Film Markets / Sales

  • Sold to Canal+ (France & Benelux) for a special Hitchcock 100th birthday program

Official Selections

  • Brisbane Schlock Film Festival
  • Horror Video Festivals (Australia & Germany)

Walk on the Wild Side (1997)

Based on a true story about a teenager working in a sex shop in Rockhampton and the wild assumptions made by everyone around her.
Co-written with Robyn Evans.

Official Selection

  • Finalist – Fast Film Competition, Brisbane International Film Festival

The Day of the Rat (1996)

A short drama about a young woman whose search for love is guided by tarot cards and astrology with mixed results.

Official Selection

  • Finalist – Fast Film Competition, Brisbane International Film Festival

EDUCATION (Selected)

  • Bachelor of Screen Production – Griffith University (1990–1993)
  • Director’s Workshop – George Whaley, AFTRS (1994)
  • Acting for Directors – Linda Davies, AFTRS (1997)
  • Producing Animation – AFTRS (2012)
  • Writing for Television – AFTRS (2013)
  • A–Z Budgeting – AFTRS (2020)

TV, Film & Theatre CREDITED ROLES

2022 “Last Days of the Space Age” - Ep.8 Angela Meyer

2021 “Total Control” Series 2 - Ep.4 Australian Electorate Officer

2020 “Les Norton” - Ep.5 Sunbather

2003 “White Collar Blue” Series 2 - Ep.22 Kiki

1998 “Waste” Feature - Sperm Donor Nurse

1988 “Blythe Spirit” Brisbane Theatre Group - Edith the Maid

1985-1986 “Das Alte Land” Staatstheater Darmstadt, Germany - Young Daughter

1980-1984 Actor in an amateur Theatre Group Germany “Die Sandbach Mimen”

1982-1984 Actor in Theatre Group at Viktoria Schule (High School Germany)