Bio
Katja Straub is an artist, writer, and award winning filmmaker whose films have screened in numerous festivals and museums around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Images Festival in Toronto, the Viper Basel in Switzerland, the Museo Nationale Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Seattle International Film Festival, Achtung Berlin, the Munich International Film Festival, the Hof International Film Festival, etc.
Katja received her Master in Experimental Film at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. Awarded the Homer Lindsey Bruce Fellowship and the Warren E. Skaaren Scholarship, she received her MFA in Film Production at the University of Texas at Austin in 2008.
Katja is currently teaching film acting at Filmuniversity Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, is working on a feature documentary about childhood trauma in the male lineage of her family, and writes short stories based on her childhood memories.
2022
Dream Nails wins the AUDIENCE AWARD at the 5th edition of the CONSONANCE MUSIC & DANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Dream Nails wins the BEST MUSICAL COMEDY AWARD at the the 5th edition of the CONSONANCE MUSIC & DANCE FILM FESTIVAL
2020
Dream Nails wins the Special Mention Jury Award for Best Production by CineFem Festival Internacional de Cine de la Mujer, Punta del Este Uruguay
Dream Nails is awarded the highest rating "particularly valuable" (besonders wertvoll) by the Film Rating Agency (Filmbewertungsstelle) Wiesbaden
2018
Kurzfilmförderung für Dream Nails (früher Good Nails) von der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM)
2014-15
Exzellence Program: International & Interdisciplinary Mentoring Program for Female Artists and Scientists, Universität der Künste Berlin
2011
NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) New Artist Initiative Fellowship awarded through the Hambidge Artist Residency
Residency at I-Park in East Haddam, USA
Residenzy at Spiro Arts in Park City, USA
Residency at Hambidge Artist Residency in Rabun Gap, USA
2010
Best Family Friendly Film Award for Martha, Lady Filmmaker’s Film Festival, Los Angeles
Audience Choice Award for Martha, Reno Film Festival, USA
Golden Palm Award for Martha, Mexican International Film Festival, Rosarito, Mexico
2009
Martha is a Semi-Finalist for the Student Academy Award
Best Narrative Award for Martha, Gate City Women's Film
Participant of the Berlinale Talent Campus
2008
Warren E. Skaaren Scholarship awarded through The University of Texas at Austin, USA
2007-08
Austin Homer Lindsey Bruce Fellowship awarded through The University of Texas at Austin, USA
2006
You're Not a Cowboy Unless You Got a Hat screens at The MoMA Film & Video Exhibition in New York City, USA
2005
All White People Are French screens at The MoMA Film & Video Exhibition in New York City, USA
Special Jury Award for All White People Are French at The South by Southwest Film Festival Austin, USA
Directory of Courses Held
Acting for the Camera (ongoing)
Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
Practical camera seminar for acting students.
What is needed in order to create a character based on a screenplay scene?
Psychological Character Development (ongoing)
Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
In-depth development of a film role during an interdisciplinary seminar with students from the departments of Directing, Producing, Screenwriting, Camera, Editing, Scenic Design. From script to screen of a short film including research, character development, rehearsal techniques, and shooting.
Editing Seminar (ongoing)
Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
Introduction to Editing for acting students (Final Cut Pro).
Acting Students edit their own material from the second semester film-acting seminar.
“Shooting, Montage, Emotion” (2014 - Team-Teaching with Claudia Lehmann)
Universität der Künste, Berlin
Block seminar. Filmmaking students plan, shoot, and edit sequences based on a given theme.
How do I use my film language (camera, rhythm, montage) so that every choice underlines the emotion and atmosphere?
Thesis Class Directing (2009-2014)
Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT USA
Development of a short thesis film from script to screen.
Thesis Class Screenwriting (2011-2013)
Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT USA
Development of a feature length screenplay.
Intro to Digital Film (2009-2014)
Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT USA
Introduction to video filmmaking (camera, light, sound, editing) with focus on visual and auditory film language.
„Sight and Sound“ auf 16mm (2009-2014)
Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT USA
Introduction to 16mm filmmaking (camera, light, sound, editing) with focus on visual and auditory film language.
Narrativer Film Class (2008-2009)
University of Texas in Austin, TX USA
A production class on 16mm reversal film as well as video. Intensive workshop in visual storytelling.
Editing Seminar (2014)
filmArche e.V., Berlin
Practical editing seminar accompanied by film analysis lectures.