Leonard Petersen

© Pablo Ruiz

Biography

Stylistic variety as well as an exceptional sense of dramaturgy are among the qualities of film composer Leonard Petersen, who was awarded with the German Film Music Award as well as the Franz-Grothe-Award already during his studies at the Babelsberg Film University. His work encompasses soundtracks for over thirty five productions. His most recent scores include Martha Liebermann, Best Film at Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2022 as well as the children's film Too far away, which received the German Film Critics Association Award 2021.

On the occasion of the premiere of The Bunker (directed by Nikias Chryssos) at the Berlin International Film Festival 2015, the Hollywood Reporter wrote: “Leonard Petersen’s ambient score perfectly complements the film’s rich soundscape“.

Petersen studied music with a focus on cello at the Berlin University of the Arts and graduated in Film Music at the Film and Television University Konrad Wolf (HFF) in Potsdam-Babelsberg where he studied with Karim Sebastian Elias. Petersen works as a freelance film composer in Berlin and has been teaching music production at the Berlin University of the Arts since 2010.

Film

Martha Liebermann, 2022
Directed by Stefan Bühling
Best Film at Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2022

Tatort - Schutzmaßnahmen, 2021
Directed by Nina Vukovic

Wenn das fünfte Lichtlein brennt, 2021
Directed by Stefan Bühling

Umgewendet - Schule nach dem Mauerfall, 2021
Directed by Katharina Herrmann
Documentary

Liebe. Jetzt!, 2020
Directed by Pola Beck, Tom Lass
TV series

Im Abgrund, 2020
Directed by Stefan Bühling
Feature Film
Nomination Jupiter Award "Best national TV feature film"

Too far away (Zu weit weg), 2019
Directed by Sarah Winkenstette
Feature Film
German Film Critics Association Award 2021

Honeckers unheimlicher Plan, 2018
Directed by Katharina and Konrad Herrmann
Documentary

Detour, 2017
Directed by Nina Vukovic
Feature film
Int. Premiere: Munich Intl. Film Festival 2017

Blind & Hässlich, 2016
Directed by Tom Lass
Feature film
Int. Premiere: Munich Intl. Film Festival 2017

Euphoryaa, 2016
Directed by Christian Klinger
Feature film

Wann endlich küsst du mich, 2016
Directed by Julia Ziesche
Feature film
Int. Premiere: 40th Montreal World Film Festival
D Premiere: Max-Ophüls-Preis 2017

Wir sind die Flut, 2016
Directed by Sebastian Hilger
Feature film
Int. Premiere: 21st Busan International Film Festival 2016
D Premiere: 66. Berlinale

After Spring Comes Fall, 2015
Directed by Daniel Carsenty
Feature film

Gewitterzellen, 2015
Directed by Jakob Schmid
RBB Movie

Der Bunker, 2015
Directed by Nikias Chryssos
Feature film
D Premiere: 65. Berlinale

Iwan und der Wolf, 2015
Directed by Anna Levinson
Pilot animation

Histeria, 2013
Directed by Katinka Narjes
Short film

Der Weihnachtskrieg, 2013
Directed by Oliver Dommenget
TV feature film

Am Anfang, 2013
Directed by Josephine Links
Documentary

Zelim’s Confession, 2013
Directed by Natalia Mikhaylova
Documentary

Über uns Elektrizität, 2012
Directed by Christian Johannes Koch
Short film
Int. Premiere: Festival Premiers Plans, Angers, Frankreich
International Film Festival San Sebastian

© Jan Prahl/Ziegler Film

FILMSCORE

MARTHA LIEBERMANN

Director: Stefan Bühling
Music: Leonard Petersen

In early 1943, Martha Liebermann (85), widow of great impressionist painter Max Lieberman, has all but lost hope in fleeing Nazi-occupied Germany. Her fear of deportation grows by the day. Rescue finally arrives in the form of the resistance fighters “The Solf circle”, led by the charismatic ambassador’s widow Hanna Solf (55) and her courageous daughter Lagi von Ballestrem (29). The money needed for the rescue would be raised through the smuggling and sale of two legendary portraits by the Swedish painter Anders Zorn. Edgar Baron von Uexküll (59) agrees to embark on the dangerous journey to Sweden, fully aware of the value and importance of these registered paintings, with the Gestapo in hot pursuit…. Gestapo Detective Inspector Rudolf Teubner (34) is, however, not only concerned with the arrest of the individual members of the “Solf circle”, but to expose and destroy the entire resistance network. He is convinced that Martha Liebermann holds the key and is willing to go to any lengths for his success ….

Best Film at Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2022

© NDR

FILMSCORE

TOO FAR AWAY (ZU WEIT WEG)

Director: Sarah Winkenstette
Music: Leonard Petersen

Ben and his family have to move to the nearby city, because an open brown coal pit will swallow their village soon. Ben meets Tariq, a Syrian refugee. The two start out as competitors - at school and at the football club - but soon find out that they have more in common than they thought they would.

German Film Critics Association Award 2021
Children’s and Youth Film Award at the 24th International Film Festival for Children and Young Audiences (Schlingel Festival)

FILMSCORE

IM ABGRUND

Director: Stefan Bühling
Music: Leonard Petersen

Not everyone deserves a second chance. The experienced investigator Wallat is sure of that - and certainly not the child murderer Hagenow, who is released after 15 years in prison, although he is still considered dangerous. Wallat takes over the management of an LKA team that monitors the potential repeat offender. His "unofficial" assignment does not fit into any service manual: Wallat is supposed to catch Hagenow in the act - in good time, of course - in order to put him behind bars forever. Meanwhile, the ex-convict moves into a room in the house of the idealistic village pastor Berkenbusch and starts a job at the local sawmill. The LKA team serves him around the clock. When Wallat loses sight of him during a night walk, a nightmare begins the next morning: Max, the eight-year-old son of Berkenbusch's housekeeper, has disappeared without a trace. Wallat and his colleague Lisa are ready to touch Hagenow harder from the start. Her colleague Eric, who was there 15 years ago, insists on compliance with the service regulations. After all, it could have been someone else. For Wallat, however, there is no doubt. He suspects the boy is still alive, but has little time to save him.

Nomination Jupiter Award "Best national TV feature film"