Director
Producer
Screenwriter
Юрий Сауле
jurijs saule
The German-Latvian, award-winning director, producer and screenwriter Jurijs Saule brings a bold perspective to the film world. Born in Riga to a Jewish-Russian family, his early move to Berlin shaped his intercultural sensitivity, which forms the core of his narrative work.
His first feature film, Martin Reads the Quran, has already attracted the attention of the film industry, the press and international audiences. Saule doesn't shy away from controversy – through his work, he opens up public debates and focuses on human understanding rather than polarization.
Saule's storytelling is both meticulous and profoundly human. He explores complex themes through compelling characters and visually stunning imagery. His filmmaking is characterized by an unwavering pursuit of precision: every frame is carefully considered, every detail meticulously executed. 95% of his storyboard appears in the final cut.
This dedication to planning is also evident in his choice of team: He is known not only for his trained eye for assembling crews and casting actors with exceptional care, but also for his ability to identify each team member's weaknesses in order to be prepared for future challenges. Furthermore, he possesses a unique talent for discovering hidden potential, fostering new perspectives and giving unknown artists a voice.
But it is Jurijs' revolutionary camera concept that truly sets him apart. For him, the camera is not merely a tool, but an active participant in the narrative – creating a dance between dialogue and lens. This innovative approach elevates his films beyond mere visual trends, transforming them into a captivating dialogue between the spoken word and the moving image.
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photography
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Short documentary
Feature Film
Commercial
Experimental
Medium-length film
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Portfolio
01. Martin reads the Quran (2024)
106 min
Director, Producer, Writer, Editor,
Casting director
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Feature Film
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Festivals & Prizes:
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German Film Award LOLA in Berlin, July 2022 (WINNER German Screenplay Award)
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Moscow International Film Festival, World Premiere April 2024
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Prize of the International Federation of Film Clubs “For the depth of exploration of the abyss of human despair”
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DIPLOMA from the Jury of Russian Film Critics “For the depth of the dramaturgical search for a discussion about worldviews”
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German Film Festival in Madrid, Spain Premiere June 2024
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Festival de Cine Aleman in Buenos Aires, Argentina Premiere Sep 2024
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Muslim Film Festival in Perth, Australia Premiere Oct 2024 (WINNER Best Feature Film Drama)
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Hof International Film Festival, Bavaria, Germany Premiere Oct 2024 (NOMINATION for the Promotional Prize, the Critics' Prize and the Gold Prize)
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Biberach Film Festival, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Nov 2024 (NOMINATION Best Debut Film)
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Festival del Cinema Europeo in Lecce, Italy Premiere Nov 2024 (NOMINATION for Golden Olive Tree Competition)
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Turkey-Germany Film Festival, Nuremberg, Germany March 2025 (NOMINATION for Best Feature Film)
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Film Festival Bremen, Germany, March 2025 (NOMINATION for Innovation)
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Emden-Norderney International Film Festival, Lower Saxony, Germany June 2025 (NOMINATION for Creative Energy Award)
Synopsis
The story revolves around Martin, a 35-year-old father of Iranian descent who has only been studying Islam for a year. Driven by a search for answers and a deep inner conflict, he visits Professor Neuweiser (played by Ulrich Tukur), a respected expert in Islamic studies. What begins as a seemingly innocuous conversation about religion, morality, and the limits of faith quickly escalates into a nerve-wracking power struggle. Martin reveals to the professor that he has been planning a terrorist attack this morning. He is convinced that the violence he is planning is in accordance with the teachings of the Quran. For Professor Neuweiser, a race against time begins: Will he be able to convince Martin in time that the Quran unequivocally forbids violence? The professor has no other weapon than the Quran itself, the word of God.
02. Five to one (2025)
Director, camera operator, producer, editor
22 min
Short documentary
Synopsis
Five artists, five creative visions: Ali Görmez from Berlin, Victoria Lim from London, and Alexej Stele from Moscow. For over a year and a half, I accompanied them on their journey – from the first sketch to the finished masterpiece. In intimate moments, they open up their inner world, share their doubts and flights of fancy and allow us to participate in the spark that fuels the creative process. The documentary by Jurijs Saule and the music by Yves Micosse capture the essence of this artistic work and fuse it into a multimedia Gesamtkunstwerk: This is the project "Five2One".
03. Ring Kings (2025)
Director, Camera, Lighting, Writer, Editor, Music Supervisor
2:30 min
Commercial
In a promotional video, a ballerina and a boxer meet in the ring. Through striking visuals and dynamic movements, the film highlights the parallels between dance and boxing: balance, precision and strategy. The dancer glides elegantly across the floor, while the boxer moves with lightness of foot, dodging punches. Their movements merge into a rhythmic duel - a dance of power and control.
Because "boxing is a wild dance."
Synopsis
04. Souls for Sale (2023)
Director, Camera, Lighting, Producer, Editor, Choreographer, Music Supervisor
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7:20 min
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Experimental
Festivals & Prizes:
WINNER Best Experimental Film - Cannes 7th Art Awards, France 2025
WINNER Best Experimental Film - White Nights Film Festival, Saint Petersburg, Russia 2024
WINNER Best Experimental Film - International Sound Future Awards, Slovakia 2023
WINNER Best Dance Film - The Music Dance Screenings Film Festival Consonance, Georgia 2023
WINNER Best Short Theater Dance Project - Theater Live Online Film Festival, USA 2023
WINNER Best Actress - Europe Music Awards, Slovakia 2023
WINNER Best Dancer - The Music Dance Screenings Film Festival 2023
HONORABLE MENTION Experimental Music Video - Munich Music Video Awards, Germany 2023
HONORABLE MENTION Experimental Music Video - International Music Video Awards, Hungary 2023
FINALIST Best Actress Music Video - Rome Music Video Awards, Italy 2023
FINALIST Best Dance Video - Prague International Music Video Awards, Czech Republic 2023
SEMI-FINALIST Dance Short Film - Inspired Dance Film Festival, Australia 2023
Fish Eye Film Fest, London, England 2024
Nominee: Best Score
Nominee: Best Short Dance Film
Nominee: Best Choreography
OFFICIAL SELECTION Best Dance Video - Budapest Movie Awards, Hungary 2023
OFFICIAL SELECTION Best Dance for Camera - Immagina Film Festival, Italy 2024
Seduced by the promise of success, the ballerina sacrifices her soul. As self-destruction consumes her, she must confront the darkness and fight to reclaim herself.
Synopsis
05. CHACONNE (2008)
Director, producer, writer, editor, casting Director, music supervisor
60 min
Medium-length film
An adaptation film of Franz Kafka's “In the Penal Colony”, with musical support by Jascha Heifetz.
