Biografia
AKIZ (Achim Bornhak), born in Germany, studied directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. Two of his student films were nominated for Academy Awards. In 1995, AKIZ received a scholarship to attend graduate film school at the University of Southern California. In 1997, he directed his critically acclaimed debut, "SCHOOLS OUT."
In 1999, AKIZ moved to Los Angeles, where he worked on documentaries, independent projects, and screenplays. Between 1999 and 2004, he also developed the initial creature prototypes for his feature film "DER NACHTMAHR."
Returning to Germany, AKIZ directed the Warner Brothers feature film "Das Wilde Leben," released in theaters in 2007. The film was nominated in two categories at the German Film Awards and received the highest German rating from the Deutsche Filmbewertungsstelle, "Besonders Wertvoll." In 2013, it was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York during the PopRally event hosted by Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Ad Rock (Beastie Boys). The film’s title track, "SUMMERWINE," originally by Lee Hazelwood and performed by Ville Valo and lead actress Natalia Avelon, achieved double-platinum status and became the most successful German film song of all time.
Alongside his filmmaking, AKIZ creates paintings and sculptures in his studio located in the South Tyrolean Alps under the pseudonym AKIZ.
In 2008, David Lynch and the Bizzurkearmy showcased AKIZ’s artwork at the Engine Collision Fest in Los Angeles. In 2010, AKIZ produced the short film and art piece "PAINTING REALITY," which was featured in Banksy’s documentary about international street artists, "The Antics Roadshow." "PAINTING REALITY" was also exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
That same year, AKIZ directed the short film "EVOKATION" for the Electric Cinema at Soho House London and collaborated with Philipp Virus on projects involving Philipp Virus, Atari Teenage Riot, Dinosaur Jr., and others.
In 2012, he founded his film production company OOO-FILMS. In 2013, he completed his long-term and ambitious feature film project "DER NACHTMAHR," with its German theatrical release planned for 2015.
