Biography
Rosa von Praunheim, born Holger Bernhard Bruno Waldemar Mischwitzky, was a German film director, author, painter and the most famous gay rights activist in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A prolific director, he has made over seventy feature films. He began his career associated to the New German Cinema as a senior member of the Berlin school of underground filmmaking. He took the artistic female name Rosa von Praunheim to remind people of the pink triangle that homosexuals had to wear in Nazi concentration camps.
Directed 58
2020s
- 2025
Satanic Sow
Director
- 2024
Thirty Years with the Whip
Director
- 2022
Rex Gildo: The Last Dance
Director
- 2021
Die Nachtigall – Der grausame Sohn
Director
- 2020
Operndiven - Operntunten
Director
2010s
- 2019
Darkroom
Director
- 2018
- 2017
Survival in Berlin-Neukölln
Director
ACT! Wer bin ich?
Director
- 2015
Tough Love
Director
Praunheim Memoires
Director
- 2014
Auf der Suche nach Heilern
Director
Laura – Das Juwel von Stuttgart
Director
Mario Wirz
Director
- 2012
Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim
Director
King of Comics
Director
- 2011
Rent Boys
Director
- 2010
20 × Brandenburg
Director
New York Memories
Director
2000s
- 2009
24 Hours Berlin
Director
- 2008
Can I Be Your Bratwurst, Please?
Director
Dead Gay Men and Living Lesbians
Director
- 2007
Two Mothers
Director
- 2005
Your Heart in My Head
Director
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis
Director
Umsonst Gelebt: Walter Schwarze
Director
- 2002
Cows Knocked Up by Fog
Director
Queens Don’t Cry
Director
- 2000
Fassbinder's Women
Director
The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld
Director
1990s
- 1998
Gay Courage: 100 Years of the Gay Movement
Director
- 1996
Transexual Menace
Director
- 1995
Neurosia: Fifty Years of Perversity
Director
- 1992
I Am My Own Woman
Director
- 1990
Life Is Like a Cucumber
Director
Fire Under Your Ass
Director
Positive
Director
1980s
- 1989
Survival in New York
Director
- 1988
Anita – Dances of Vice
Director
- 1987
Dolly, Lotte and Maria
Director
- 1986
A Virus Knows No Morals
Director
- 1984
Horror Vacui
Director
- 1983
Red Love
Director
City of Lost Souls
Director
- 1981
Our Corpses Are Still Alive
Director
1970s
- 1979
Death Magazine: or How to Be a Flowerpot
Director
Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts
Director
Tally Brown, New York
Director
- 1976
I’m an Antistar
Director
Underground and Emigrants
Director
Marianne Rosenberg
Director
- 1975
Berliner Bettwurst
Director
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Director
It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives
Director
1960s
- 1969
Neurasia
Assistant Director
Beckett in Berlin
Director
- 1968
Von Rosa von Praunheim
Director
Wrote 41
2020s
- 2025
Satanic Sow
Writer
- 2024
Thirty Years with the Whip
Author
- 2022
Rex Gildo: The Last Dance
Writer
2010s
- 2019
Darkroom
Screenplay
- 2018
- 2017
Survival in Berlin-Neukölln
Writer
- 2015
Tough Love
Writer
Praunheim Memoires
Writer
- 2014
Auf der Suche nach Heilern
Writer
- 2012
Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim
Writer
King of Comics
Writer
- 2011
Rent Boys
Writer
- 2010
New York Memories
Writer
2000s
- 2008
Can I Be Your Bratwurst, Please?
Screenplay
- 2007
Two Mothers
Writer
- 2005
Your Heart in My Head
Screenplay
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis
Writer
Umsonst Gelebt: Walter Schwarze
Writer
- 2002
Cows Knocked Up by Fog
Screenplay
Queens Don’t Cry
Screenplay
1990s
- 1996
Transexual Menace
Writer
- 1995
Neurosia: Fifty Years of Perversity
Writer
- 1992
I Am My Own Woman
Screenplay
- 1990
Life Is Like a Cucumber
Writer
Fire Under Your Ass
Writer
Positive
Writer
1980s
- 1989
Survival in New York
Writer
- 1988
Anita – Dances of Vice
Writer
- 1987
Dolly, Lotte and Maria
Writer
- 1986
A Virus Knows No Morals
Writer
- 1984
Horror Vacui
Writer
- 1983
Red Love
Writer
City of Lost Souls
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Death Magazine: or How to Be a Flowerpot
Writer
Tally Brown, New York
Writer
Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts
Writer
- 1976
Underground and Emigrants
Writer
- 1975
Berliner Bettwurst
Writer
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Writer
It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives
Writer
Produced 28
2020s
- 2022
Rex Gildo: The Last Dance
Producer
- 2021
Die Nachtigall – Der grausame Sohn
Producer
2010s
- 2019
Darkroom
Producer
- 2018
- 2015
Tough Love
Producer
Praunheim Memoires
Producer
- 2012
Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim
Producer
I am a Poem
Producer
King of Comics
Producer
- 2011
Rent Boys
Producer
2000s
- 2005
Your Heart in My Head
Producer
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis
Producer
- 2002
Queens Don’t Cry
Producer
- 2000
The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld
Producer
1990s
- 1995
Neurosia: Fifty Years of Perversity
Producer
- 1992
I Am My Own Woman
Producer
- 1990
Life Is Like a Cucumber
Producer
Fire Under Your Ass
Producer
Positive
Producer
1980s
- 1988
Anita – Dances of Vice
Producer
- 1987
Dolly, Lotte and Maria
Producer
- 1986
A Virus Knows No Morals
Producer
1970s
- 1979
Death Magazine: or How to Be a Flowerpot
Producer
Tally Brown, New York
Producer
Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts
Producer
- 1976
Underground and Emigrants
Producer
- 1975
Berliner Bettwurst
Producer
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Producer, Unit Manager
Acted in 21
2020s
- 2022
Glückskind: Der schwule Filmemacher Rosa von Praunheim ist 80
Movie
Rex Gildo: The Last Dance
Erzähler
2010s
- 2019
Darkroom
Schlafender in S-Bahn
- 2017
My Wonderful West Berlin
Movie
- 2015
Desire Will Set You Free
Ezra's Agent
- 2013
I Feel Like Disco
Rosa von Praunheim
- 2012
Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim
Movie
King of Comics
Movie
2000s
- 2009
On the Other Side of the Screen: 100 Years of Moviemento Cinema
Movie
- 2007
Two Mothers
Movie
1990s
- 1990
Fire Under Your Ass
Movie
1980s
- 1989
Survival in New York
Movie
- 1988
Anita – Dances of Vice
Movie
- 1987
Dolly, Lotte and Maria
Interviewer
- 1986
A Virus Knows No Morals
Rüdiger Kackinski
- 1984
The Bite
Movie
1970s
- 1979
Tally Brown, New York
Movie
- 1975
The Enchantment of the Blue Sailors
Matrose
1960s
- 1968
Carla
Movie
Von Rosa von Praunheim
Movie
Edited 13
2020s
- 2025
Satanic Sow
Editor
2010s
- 2017
Survival in Berlin-Neukölln
Editor
- 2012
Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim
Editor
I am a Poem
Editor
King of Comics
Editor
2000s
- 2008
Can I Be Your Bratwurst, Please?
Editor
1990s
- 1990
Positive
Editor
1980s
- 1988
Anita – Dances of Vice
Editor
1970s
- 1979
Death Magazine: or How to Be a Flowerpot
Editor
Tally Brown, New York
Editor
Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts
Editor
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Editor
Camera 7
1980s
- 1983
Red Love
Director of Photography
1970s
- 1979
Death Magazine: or How to Be a Flowerpot
Camera Operator
Tally Brown, New York
Director of Photography
- 1976
Underground and Emigrants
Director of Photography
- 1975
Berliner Bettwurst
Director of Photography
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Director of Photography
It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives
Director of Photography
Other crew 1
1970s
- 1979
Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts
Cinematography
Art department 1
1970s
- 1971
The Bed Sausage
Art Direction
Appearances36
2020s
- 2025
Last Exit Gran Canaria
Self
Rosa <3
Self (archive footage)
- 2024
Hape Kerkeling – Total Normal
Self
- 2022
Come with Me to the Cinema – The Gregors
Self
- 2021
Isolation
Self
Legendär!
Self · 1 episode
Queer Cinema
Himself
Meine Väter
Self
2010s
- 2019
Chez Krömer
Self · 1 episode
- 2018
- 2015
Praunheim Memoires
Self
- 2014
How I Learned to Love the Numbers
Self
Mario Wirz
Self
- 2012
I am a Poem
Self
Rosakinder
Self
- 2011
Rent Boys
Self
Mondo Lux: The Visual Worlds of Werner Schroeter
Self
2000s
- 2008
- 2007
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
Self
- 2006
- 2005
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis
Self
- 2002
1990s
- 1997
Birth of a Nation
Self
- 1996
I Was a Jewish Sex Worker
Self
Transexual Menace
Self - Interviewer
- 1995
- 1991
- 1990
Positive
Self
What Is the Relationship Between Rosa von Praunheim and the Male Strippers in San Francisco?
Self
1980s
- 1986
September September
Self (archive footage)
1970s
- 1979
- 1976
Underground and Emigrants
Self
1960s
- 1967
Silvo
Self