Jan Schmidt-Garre

Jan Schmidt-Garre (born 18 June 1962 in Munich), German film director and producer.

Life
Jan Schmidt-Garre studied philosophy at the Hochschule für Philosophie der Jesuiten in Munich from 1982 to 1986 (M. A. with a semiotic thesis on Wagner's “Ring of the Nibelung”). He also studied feature film direction at Munich's Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film from 1984 to 1988. His mother is famous German critic Beate Kayser.

During this time he worked as a trainee and assistant director for, among others, Rudolf Noelte, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, David Esrig, Joachim Herz and Harry Kupfer (at the Salzburg Festival, the Bayreuth Festival, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and at the Dresden Opera).

He studied conducting and musical theory with Sergiu Celibidache in Mainz, Munich and Paris.

In 1988 he founded PARS MEDIA, a production company whose films have received international acclaim for its documentary and feature films focusing on music and the arts. PARS MEDIA productions have been awarded numerous prizes worldwide, among them the main prizes at the film festivals in Chicago, Paris, Monte Carlo, Columbus/Ohio, Munich and Prague as well as a nomination for the German Film Award. PARS MEDIA films have been broadcast in over thirty countries, many have been distributed theatrically and appeared on Laser Disc, VHS and DVD.

Schmidt-Garre is staging operas on a regular basis at opera companies in Germany and Switzerland.

Schmidt-Garre, a member of the German Film Academy, lectures on directing and aesthetics at (among others) the HFF Munich and the Athanor Academy of Performing Arts. He is married to art dealer Philomene Magers. They have two children and live in Berlin.

Filmography (selected)
Virtual reality opera film with Jacquelyn Wagner, 2018, 25 Min Music film, 1999, 90 Min
 * 360° Figaro
 * Aida’s Brothers & Sisters

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Music documentary series, 1996, 390 Min. Prizes at the Columbus International Film Festival and at “Classique en images”, ICMA Award
 * Belcanto – The Tenors of the 78 Era

On DVD with Naxos

Dance film with Saburo Teshigawara, based on a short story by Ilse Aichinger, 2002, 45 Min
 * Bound

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Documentary, 2012, 105 Min
 * Breath of the Gods – A Journey to the Origins of Modern Yoga

On DVD with Kino Lorber, Jupiter Films, Blue Dolphin and UpLink Feature film, 1995, 80 Min
 * Bruckner’s Decision

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Documentary film, 1992, 100 Min. Nominated for the German Film Award, won the silver medal at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Midem Classique Award
 * Celibidache – You Don’t Do Anything, You Just Let It Evolve

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Film Essay, 2010, 60 Min
 * Chopin at the Opera

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Film version of a production with Jacquelyn Wagner, Norbert Ernst and Roman Trekel, 2018, 115 Min. Directed for the stage and for the screen by Jan Schmidt-Garre
 * Fidelio

On DVD with Euroarts Music documentary with Ermonela Jaho, Barbara Hannigan and Asmik Grigorian, 2021, 92 Min
 * Fuoco sacro – A Search for the Sacred Fire of Song

On DVD with Naxos Audiovisual

Film Essay, 2004, 70 Min. Awarded at "Golden Prague"
 * Furtwängler’s Love

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Music film and concert series with Francesco Piemontesi, Christian Tetzlaff, Jacquelyn Wagner, Roman Trekel, Iddo Bar-Shai, Severin von Eckardstein, Elsa Dreisig, Olena Tokar, Sharon Kam, Matan Porat, Tabea Zimmermann and many more, 2020/21, 60 + 14 x 60 min
 * Home Music Berlin

On DVD with Naxos Audiovisual

Series of musical film essays with Zlata Chochieva, Francesco Piemontesi, Ermonela Jaho, Barbara Hannigan, Asmik Grigorian and many more, 2017–...
 * The Inner Film

Music documentary and concert series, 2006–08, 720 Min
 * Legato – The World of the Piano

On DVD with Medici Arts

Art documentary, 2010, 60 Min
 * Long Shot Close Up – Andreas Gursky

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Art documentary, 1992, 45 Min
 * Measure – Color – Light

Music Documentary, 2004, 60 Min
 * No More Wunderkind – Sergei Nakariakov

On DVD with Arthaus Musik Art documentary, 2005
 * Olafur Eliasson – Notion Motion

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Opera road movie, 1998, 90 Min. Prizes at the Munich International Documentary Festival and at “Golden Prague” (Czech Crystal)
 * Opera Fanatic

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Documentary, 2023, 90 Min
 * The Promise – Architect BV Doshi

Music Documentary with Sofia Gubaidulina and Anne-Sophie Mutter, 2008, 60 Min. Nominated for Prix Italia
 * Sophia – Biography of a Violin Concerto

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Documentary, 2014, 60 Min
 * Super Life

On DVD with Belvedere

Art Documentary, 2005, 90 Min
 * This not that – The Artist John Baldessari

On DVD with Arthaus Musik

Articles and essays

 * Interview on directing operas