KATHARINA KEIL

AWAR-WINNING DIRECTOR

Directing Filmography

RECENT WORK

The Release (2026)

A short comedy-drama about nine cousins rehearsing the carrying of their grandfather’s coffin, where organised chaos, old rivalries and family roles quickly resurface.

Official Selections

  • World Premiere - CinefestOz 2026
  • Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival 2026
  • KIDS FIRST! Film Festival 2026

Opa-Pappou (2024)

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

Now streaming worldwide on Fawesome, Cpics and Zigguart TV.

WATCH ON FAWESOME →
https://fawesome.tv/movies/10838514/opa-pappou

WATCH ON CPICS →
https://cpics.tv/show-details/opa-pappou

Awards & Recognition

Jury Award – Best Short Screenplay, London Women Film Festival 2025

  • Award of Excellence – Global Shorts 2025
  • Recommended – Deutscher Kurzfilmpreis 2025

Selected Festivals & Nominations

  • Canada International Children’s Film Festival
  • Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
  • KIDS FIRST! Film Festival 2025
  • Toronto Women Film Festival – Nominee
  • Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
  • Indie European Cinema & Screenplay Festival – Nominee

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.

Selected Awards

  • Best Female Director – FilmOneFest
  • Best 2-Minute Film – Canberra Short Film Festival
  • Best Super Short & Best Director – Cannes World Film Festival
  • Best Director – Brussels Short Film Festival
  • Best Cinematography & Best Editing – LA Cinematography Awards
  • Best Script – Stockholm Short Festival

Selected Festivals
Flickerfest, CinefestOZ, Uppsala Short Film Festival, Berlin Lift-Off, Sydney Lift-Off, LA Comedy 365, Berlin Indie Film Festival and others.

EARLIER WORK

DANGER SPOT (2004)
Comedy Short. Shot on Super 16mm.
Tropfest 2004 - Best of the Rest (Top 50 of 760 entries)

HACKFLEISCH
Dark comedy. Shot on 16mm.
Sold to Canal+ France & Benelux for its Hitchcock centenary program.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1997)
Short drama. Co-written with Robyn Evans.
Finalist – Fast Film Competition, Brisbane International Film Festival

THE DAY OF THE RAT (1996)
Short drama.
Finalist – Fast Film Competition, Brisbane International Film Festival

EDUCATION & TRAINING

BA Screen Production – Griffith University

Director's Workshop – George Whaley, AFTRS

Acting for Directors – Linda Davies, AFTRS

A–Z Budgeting – AFTRS