John Burgan Pro

Writer, director, editor & lecturer born in London in 1962. Read BA (Hons) English Language & Literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne 1981-1984, then worked as a picture editor at BBC TV News in London before attending the UK's National Film & TV School from 1989-1992. Based in Berlin, Germany between 1992-2006, working variously as a writer, director, editor and lecturer, then taught documentary at the European Film College, Denmark 2006-8. 2010-15 Senior Lecturer at the University of South Wales. Active member of the international CILECT film school network. Based again in Berlin from 2015, teaching filmmaking and working as a mentor/consultant in various European countries. 2017-22 Programme Leader, MA Documentary & Factual, MetFilm School Berlin. 2019-2022 on expert panel of IDM Film Fund, Bolzano, Italy. Since 2016, Mentor, Nipkow Programme, Berlin.

Films as writer/director include MEMORY OF BERLIN (ZDF, 1998), part city portrait, part autobiography; BEHIND WORDS (MDR, 2005) about forced migration and ethnic cleansing in 20th century Europe; FRIENDLY ENEMY ALIEN (ZDF, 2006) telling parallel stories of German and Afghan refugees in Australia. Consulting Producer on MEMORIES OF RAIN (2004) about the underground struggle against apartheid in South Africa, screened at the Berlinale Forum. Favourite credit: "Godfather" on CINEMANIA (2002). 2010: POWER & PLACE, a video essay on sustainable energy commissioned by the Centre for Alternative Technology, Powys, Wales. 

Joined The D-Word in 2001, Co-Host 2005-18.

May the force be with you.