Markus Schleinzer

Markus Schleinzer is an Austrian director, actor, screenwriter, and former casting director. He was born in Vienna and worked for many years as a casting director for renowned directors before entering the film industry himself, where he was responsible for over sixty film and television productions behind the scenes and worked closely with filmmakers such as Jessica Hausner, Ulrich Seidl, Shirin Neshat, and Michael Haneke. Schleinzer made his directorial debut with the feature film Michael (2011), which received international attention and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. His second feature film, Angelo (2018), a biographical portrait of the historical adventurer Angelo Soliman, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was also screened at other major festivals. In addition to his work as a director, Schleinzer is also active as an actor and has appeared in numerous film and television productions. He has also taught directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg and is established as a versatile filmmaker in the German-speaking film scene. His third directorial work, Rose (2026), a historical drama, was invited to compete at the 76th Berlinale – an invitation to the main competition is one of the festival's highest honors and underscores Schleinzer's position as one of the most prominent voices in Austrian cinema. The film was made in collaboration with screenwriter Alexander Brom. Markus Schleinzer's films are characterized by narrative precision, character-centered intimacy, and a high degree of formal control. He is considered a filmmaker who makes a significant impact in both auteur cinema and aesthetically sophisticated mainstream cinema.