Schlegel, Egon
Filming Das Pferdemädchen © DEFA-Stiftung, Heinz Pufahl
Biography:
Egon Schlegel was born on December 13, 1938 in Zwickau. After apprenticing and working as an electrician, he studied directing at the German Film Academy in Potsdam-Babelsberg from 1961 until 1966.
Along with other students there, he co-founded “Collective 63,” a group promoting the production of realistic feature films about contemporary issues and daily life in East Germany and influenced by Italian Neo-Realism and the British Free Cinema documentary film movement. Completion of his diploma film was blocked, another victim of the blow dealt to East German filmmaking by the ruling SED party in 1965.
In 1966, Schlegel was hired by the DEFA Studio for Documentary Films, where he became assistant director to members of Group 67, led by Andrew and Annelie Thorndike. In 1972, he was able to move over to the DEFA Studio for Feature Films. After working as an assistant director to Ralf Kirsten, in 1974 he finally premiered his first film—the children’s feature film, Abenteuer mit Blasius. Starting then, Schlegel’s films became an important part of the history of East German children’s films.
Festivals & Awards:
| 1981 | Certificate of Honor, "Golden Sparrow" National Festival of Children's Cinema and Television Films, Gera, for Das Pferdemädchen |
| 1980 | Best Children's Film, Gijon International Festival of Children's and Youth Films for Das Pferdemädchen |
Filmography:
| 1982 | Die Schüsse der Arche Noah (Shots from Noah’s Ark) |
| 1980 | Max und siebeneinhalb Jungen (Max and Seven and a Half Boys) |
| 1979 | Das Pferdemädchen (The Horse Girl) |
| 1977 | Wer reiss’t denn gleich vor’m Teufel aus (The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs) |
| 1974 | Abenteuer mit Blasius (Adventures with Blasius) |
| 1969 | Eisen und Blut (Iron and Blood, doc.) |