Annette Focks
Biography
Internationally acclaimed film composer Annette Focks ranks among the most sought-after composers of the German and European film scene. During her studies, she took courses with sound designer Randy Thom (Forrest Gump), and Hollywood orchestrator Steven Scott Smalley (Batman, Mission: Impossible).
Annette Focks has composed more than 100 film scores, among them The Three Investigators and The Secret of Terror Castle (2007), Krabat and The Legend of the Satanic Mill (2008), John Rabe (2009) and Mein Leben – Marcel Reich Ranicki (2009). Her collaboration with Oscar nominated director Bille August began with their work on the film adaptation of Night Train to Lisbon (2013) and continued with Stille hjerte (2014), The Chinese Widow (2017), and 55 Steps (2017).
For her work, she received prestigious awards including the German Television Award 2005 for Best Music for five films: Marias letzte Reise, Die Kirschenkönigin, Das Gespenst von Canterville, Wellen und Bella Block: Denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun. In 2007, Annette Focks was nominated for the European Film Award for Four Minutes and received the Grand Prix spécial du Jury at the Festival Musique et Cinéma d’Auxerre, handed over by John Barry. 2013 saw her receiving the German Music Authors’ Prize, preceded by nominations for the German Film Award for Runaway Horse (2008), Krabat (2009) and followed by Ostwind (2014) as well as nominations for the Swedish Film Award Guldbagge for Simon and the Oaks, the Danish Film Award Robert for Stille hjerte, and the German Television Award 2020 for Lotte am Bauhaus, which she was already awarded with in 2019 for the German-Czech drama Summer of ’44 directed by Friedemann Fromm. In 2022, Annette Focks received the German Film Award for Best Music for Wunderschön.
Annette Focks is a member of the European Film Academy, the German Film Academy as well as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Cinema
Faraway, 2022
Directed by Vanessa Jopp
Jagdsaison, 2022
Directed by Aron Lehmann
Best Birthday Ever, 2022
Directed by Michael Ekbladh
Wunderschön, 2021
Directed by Karoline Herfurth
Rocca verändert die Welt, 2019
Directed by Katja Benrath
Sweethearts, 2019
Directed by Karoline Herfurth
Ostwind – Der große Orkan, 2019
Directed by Lea Schmidbauer
The Chinese Widow, 2017
Directed by Bille August
Eleanor & Colette (55 Steps), 2017
Directed by Bille August
Ostwind 3 – Aufbruch nach Ora, 2017
Directed by Katja von Garnier
SMS für Dich (SMS for You), 2016
Directed by Karoline Herfurth
Die Blumen von Gestern (The Bloom of Yesterday), 2016
Directed by Chris Kraus
Die göttliche Ordnung (The Divine Order), 2016
Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe
Ted Sieger's Molly Monster (Molly Monster – Der Kinofilm), 2016
Directed by Matthias Bruhn, Michael Ekbladh, Ted Sieger
Ostwind 2, 2015
Directed by Katja von Garnier
Alles ist Liebe (All is Love), 2014
Directed by Markus Goller
Silent Heart – Mein Leben gehört mir (Stille hertje), 2014
Directed by Bille August
Ostwind – Zusammen sind wir frei, 2013
Directed by Katja von Garnier
Nomination for the German Film Award 2014 for Best Music
Nachtzug nach Lissabon (Night Train to Lisbon); 2013
Directed by Bille August
Ruhm (Glory), 2012
Directed by Isabel Kleefeld
Oma & Bella, 2012
Directed by Alexa Karolinski
Documentary Feature
Simon and the Oaks (Simon och ekarna), 2011
Directed by Lisa Ohlin
Nomination for the Swedish film award Guldbagge 2012 (Best Music)
Dreiviertelmond, 2011
Directed by Christian Zübert
Longing for Beauty – Sehnsucht nach Schönheit, 2010
Directed by Julian Benedikt
Documentary Feature
Dschungelkind, 2011
Directed by Roland Suso Richter
Wer wenn nicht wir, 2011
Directed by Andres Veiel
Poll (The Poll Diaries), 2010
Directed by Chris Kraus
Best Score at the "Festival Internazionale del Film di Roma"
Nomination for the "Preis der Deutschen Filmkritik" (German Film Critics Association) 2012
Premio la X 102 a la Mejor Música at the 10ma. Muestra Internacional De Cine De Santo Domingo, República Dominicana 2009
Themba – Das Spiel seines Lebens (Themba – The Game of His Life), 2010
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
John Rabe, 2009
Directed by Florian Gallenberger
Die drei ??? – Das verfluchte Schloss, 2009
Directed by Florian Baxmeyer
Der Architekt, 2008
Directed by Ina Weisse
Krabat, 2008
Directed by Marcco Kreuzpaintner
Nomination for the German Film Award 2009 for Best Music
Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der Geisterinsel, 2007
Directed by Florian Baxmeyer
Ein fliehendes Pferd, 2007
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
Nomination for the German Film Award 2008 for Best Music
Die wilden Hühner und die Liebe, 2007
Directed by Vivian Naefe
Vier Töchter, 2006
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
Vier Minuten, 2006
Directed by Chris Kraus
Nomination for the European Film Award 2007 in the category Prix d'Excellence
Grand Prix spécial du Jury for Best Score at the 8th Festival International Musique & Cinema d'Auxerre (France)
Der Liebeswunsch, 2006
Directed by Torsten C. Fischer
Oh, wie schön ist Panama (The Trip to Panama), 2006
Directed by Martin Otevrel
Vier Fenster, 2006
Directed by Christian Moris Müller
Die wilden Hühner, 2006
Directed by Vivian Naefe
Das Paradies auf Erden (Paradise on Earth), 2003
Directed by Hans Madej
Documentary Feature
Malunde, 2001
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
Als Großvater Rita Hayworth liebte (Ab ins Paradies), 2000
Directed by Iva Svarcová
TV
Sugarlove (Sugarlovedotcom WT), 2021
Directed by Isabel Kleefeld
Frieden, 2020-
Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe
TV mini-series, 6 episodes
Lotte am Bauhaus, 2019
Directed by Gregor Schnitzler
Nomination Best Music German Television Award
Zeit der Geheimnisse (Holiday Secrets), 2019
Directed by Samira Radsi
TV mini-series, 3 episodes
Inga Lindström – Klang der Sehnsucht, 2019
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
Totgeschwiegen, 2019
Directed by Franziska Schlotterer
Lotte Jäger und die Tote im Dorf, 2018
Directed by Francis Meletzky
Rufmord, 2018
Directed by Viviane Andereggen
Bella Block, 2001-2017
Music for 7 episodes
Directed by Joe Baier, Markus Imboden, Chris Kraus, Dagmar Hirtz
Die Freibadclique (Summer of 44 – A Lost Generation), 2017
Directed by Friedemann Fromm
German Television Award for Best Music
Atempause, 2017
Directed by Aelrun Goette
Kästner und der Kleine Dienstag, 2016
Directed by Wolfgang Murnberger
Im Zweifel, 2016
Directed by Aelrun Goette
Besuch für Emma, 2015
Directed by Ingo Rasper
Die Eisläuferin, 2015
Directed by Markus Imboden
Auf der Straße (Secret Hope), 2014
Directed by Florian Baxmeyer
Das Zeugenhaus, 2014
Directed by Matti Geschonneck
Der Prediger, 2014
Directed by Thomas Berger
Weit hinter dem Horizont, 2013
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
Ein Jahr nach morgen, 2012
Directed by Aelrun Goette
Ein starkes Team – Die Gottesanbeterin, 2012
Directed by Markus Imboden
Die Löwin, 2012
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
Lüg weiter, Liebling, 2010
Directed by Gabriela Zerhau
Romy, 2009
Directed by Torsten C. Fischer
Mein Mann, seine Geliebte und ich, 2009
Directed by Dagmar Hirtz
Schlaflos, 2009
Directed by Isabel Kleefeld
Mein Leben – Marcel Reich-Ranicki, 2009
Directed by Dror Zahavi
Ein starker Abgang, 2008
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
Gwendolyn, 2007
Directed by Stefanie Sycholt
Ich wollte nicht töten, 2007
Directed by Dagmar Hirtz
Einfache Leute, 2007
Directed by Thorsten Näter
Auf ewig und einen Tag, 2006
Directed by Markus Imboden
Leo, 2006
Directed by Vivian Naefe
Arnies Welt, 2005
Directed by Isabel Kleefeld
Die Leibwächterin, 2005
Directed by Markus Imboden
Das Gespenst von Canterville, 2005
Directed by Isabel Kleefeld
German Television Award 2005 Best Music
Marias letzte Reise, 2005
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
German Television Award 2005 Best Music
Bella Block: ...denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun, 2005
Directed by Markus Imboden
German Television Award 2005 Best Music
Wellen, 2005
Directed by Vivian Naefe
German Television Award 2005 Best Music
Nomination for the FIPA d'Or (Biarritz) – European Award
Spiele der Macht – 11011 Berlin, 2005
Directed by Markus Imboden
Die Kirschenkönigin, 2004
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
German Television Award 2005 Best Music
Wieder im Amt – Der Job seines Lebens 2, 2004
Directed by Hajo Gies
Schattenlinie, 2003
Directed by Markus Imboden
Der Job seines Lebens, 2003
Directed by Rainer Kaufmann
Der Seerosenteich, 2003
Directed by Johannes Fabrick
2 episodes
Der Tod ist kein Beweis, 2002
Directed by Dagmar Hirtz
Der Morgen nach dem Tod, 2002
Directed by Sibylle Tafel
Marienhof, 2000-2001
Directed by: div.
15 episodes
Sophie – Sissis kleine Schwester, 2001
Directed by Matthias Tiefenbacher
Schwiegermutter, 2000
Directed by Dagmar Hirtz
FILMSCORE
THE DIVINE ORDER
1971: Nora is a young housewife and mother, living in a quaint little village with her husband and their two sons. The Swiss countryside is untouched by the major social upheavals the movement of 1968 has brought about. Nora’s life is not affected either; she is a quiet person who is liked by everybody – until she starts to publicly fight for women’s suffrage, which the men are due to vote on in a ballot on February 7, 1971.
Swiss Academy Award entry 2018
FILMSCORE
NIGHTTRAIN TO LISBON
Swiss Professor Raimund Gregorius (Jeremy Irons) saves a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author, which compels him to suddenly abandon the boring life he has led for years and to embark on an enthralling adventure. In search of the author, Gregorius acts as detective, pulling together pieces of a puzzle that involves political and emotional intrigue and the highest possible stakes. His voyage is one that transcends time and space, delving into the realms of history, medicine, and love, all in search of true meaning to his life.
FILMSCORE
THE CHINESE WIDOW (IN HARM'S WAY)
In the 1940s, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor destroyed Americans' morale. The president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, decided to risk it all to bomb Tokyo, raising the public's hopes. B25 aircraft, led by U.S lieutenant colonel Jimmy Doolittle, departed from USS Hornet aircraft carrier ahead of schedule in violently stormy seas. After completing their mission, the pilot and crew had to bail out over the coast near Zhejiang, China due to fuel shortage from taking flack to their right wing. A young pilot, Jack Turner, was saved by a young local widow named Ying, who risked her life as she hid the injured American pilot in her house and helped him escape. Despite not being able to communicate verbally, they fell for each other. She gave her life for him during the escape. He rescued her daughter and brought her safely back to the USA.
FILMSCORE
FOUR MINUTES (VIER MINUTEN)
Traude Krueger gives piano classes in a prison for a few prisoners and security guard Mütze. When she sees the rebel and aggressive Jenny Von Loeben playing piano, she immediately identifies her potential and offers to teach her for a competition. Frau Krueger finds that Jenny was a prodigy when she was a child; abused when she was a teenager and imprisoned for murdering and decapitating a man. Along the period they work together, Krueger discloses secrets about her love in World War II while the self-destructive Jenny has four minutes of glory and recognition of her talent.
Nomination for the European Film Award 2007 in the category Prix d'Excellence
Grand Prix spécial du Jury for Best Score at the 8th Festival International Musique & Cinema d'Auxerre (France)