His family emigrated to Uruguay in 1939. 1956 scholarship at the Hochschule der Kuenste (HDK) in Berlin, Germany. Between 1959 and 1964 he worked at the German TV channel Suedwestfunk, first as an assistant, later as a director. 1967/68 he was lecturer at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie in Berlin. Co-founder of the German distributor Filmverlag der Autoren. Since 1985 headmaster of the section Film- und Medienkunst at the Akademie der Kuenste in Berlin.

Filmography

• 2008Camilo: The Long Road to Disobedience — Director, Idea
• 2001Ein Fremder — Narrator (voice), Director, Writer
• 1995Angesichts der Wälder — Director
• 1988Der Radfahrer von San Cristóbal — Director, Screenplay
• 1987The Silence of the Poet — Director, Screenplay
• 1984Julius geht nach Amerika — Vertreter
• 1984The Autograph — Director, Writer, Set Decoration
• 1982Dear Mr. Wonderful — Director
• 1980The Uprising — Director, Writer, Set Decoration
• 1979David — Director, Writer
• 1979Milo-Milo — Government member
• 1977Kadir — Writer, Director, Producer
• 1977The American Friend — Marcangelo
• 1975Es herrscht Ruhe im Land — Director, Writer
• 1975Hauptlehrer Hofer — Writer, Producer, Director
• 1973La Victoria — Director, Writer
• 1972Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street — Carlos
• 1972Shirley Chisholm for President — Director
• 1971Die Sonne angreifen — Director
• 1971Jakob von Gunten — Director, Writer
• 1970Malatesta — Director, Writer
• 1969Horror — Director, Screenplay
• 1969Noon in Tunisia — Director
• 1968Tramp or the Only and Incomparable Lenny Jacobsen — Director, Writer
• 1967Claire — Director
• 1967The Foundling
• 1967Verbrechen mit Vorbedacht — Director
• 1966Abschied — Director, Writer
• 1966Der Beginn — Director
• 1966Robert — Director, Writer
• 1965Seraphine or the Wonderful Story of Aunt Flora — Director, Screenplay
• 1964Das Martyrium des Peter OHey — Director
• 1963Jede Stunde verletzt und die letzte tötet — Director
• 1962Bit by Bit — Director
• 1961Biographie eines Schokoladentages — Director
• 1960Die Nachbarskinder — Director

Appearances as themselves (6)

• 2008Counter Shot: Departure of the Filmmakers — Self
• 2008Michael Ballhaus - Eine Reise durch mein Leben — Self
• 2005Who is Helene Schwarz? — Self
• 2002Starbuck Holger Meins — Self
• Grimme Award — Self
• German Film Award — Self