Josef Hader

Josef Hader is one of the most influential artists in German-language film and theater. As an actor, author, and cabaret artist, he combines precise observation with subtle humor and social depth. After training in Vienna, he became a fixture in Austrian cabaret before also enjoying great success as a film actor. His work is characterized by an unmistakable blend of melancholy, irony, and humanity. In KAFKA'S THE BURROW (2014, directed by Jochen Alexander Freydank), Hader plays a striking supporting role in a film that reinterprets Franz Kafka's unfinished story in an oppressive way. The psychologically dense drama was shown at international festivals and attracted considerable attention for its atmospheric austerity. In DER PAPST IST KEIN JEANSBOY (2017, directed by Jan Henrik Stahlberg), he appears as the narrator, lending a distinctive voice to the satirical documentary about faith, youth culture, and ideals. Hader's most important film work also includes “komm, süßer tod” (come, sweet death), ‘silentium’ and “das ewige leben” (eternal life), in which he played the character Simon Brenner. These films, based on the novels by Wolf Haas, had a lasting impact on Austrian cinema in the 2000s. With his directorial debut “Wilde Maus” (2017), Hader also proved that he has a keen sense for characterization and social issues behind the camera as well. Josef Hader has received numerous awards for his artistic achievements, including the German Film Award, the Austrian Film Award, the Adolf Grimme Award, and the German Cabaret Award. This makes him one of the few artists who have set standards in both film and theater.