Born in Hanover in 1966.
Trained as a photo lab technician and photographer.
Since 1991 collaboration with H.G.Esch, Cologne.
1993 Assistant to Gerhard Vormwald, Paris
1994-1998 Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Media Art with Prof. Jürgen Klauke.
1996 New York University, Department of Arts and Media.
1998 Diploma at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne
with Prof. Jürgen Klauke, Prof. Dietrich Leder and Prof. Siegfried Zielinski.
His diploma video installation “Verstärker/Intensifier” represents the Academy of Media Arts Cologne in 1999 as part of the exhibition DIGITAL BAUHAUS at the ICC in Tokyo.
Since 1998 he has worked as a freelance filmmaker and author/director of documentary TV formats and until 2010 he edited video diaries for NDR in Hamburg.
In 2001, the short film “Freunde/The Whiz Kids” (director: Jan Krüger; camera: Oliver Schwabe) was awarded a Silver Lion for best short film in Venice.
In 2001, Oliver Schwabe was awarded the Spiridon-Neven-DuMont Prize.
In 2002, he founded field recordings together with Christian Becker and the two directors decided to work together as a directing duo.
Their first feature film EGOSHOOTER, produced by Wim Wenders, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2004.
Their second feature film “Tender Parasites” premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2009 and was released in cinemas in 2010.
Oliver Schwabe is a member of the German Film Academy and since 2019 he has been a substitute professor for television dramaturgy / creative television production with a focus on documentary film at the Academy of Media Arts, Cologne (KHM) and since 2021 professor for film at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Oliver Schwabe works as a filmmaker, cameraman, author, TV director and producer in Cologne.

CINEMA

2021 SWEET DISASTER, written/directed by Laura Lehmus, feature film, a Zeitgeist Filmproduktion in co-production with field recordings filmproduktion, funded by the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), the German Federal Film Board (FFA), the DFFF, the Filmstiftung NRW, ARTE and ZDF - Das kleine Fernsehspiel, - Producer

2019 Die Liebe frisst das Leben - Tobias Gruben, seine Lieder und die Erde, cinema documentary, 92min - writer, director, premiere: Film Festival Hamburg 2019, nomination best documentary Film Festival Cologne 2019

2018 Asi mit Niwoh - die Jürgen Zeltinger Geschichte, director: Oliver Schwabe (90min., documentary), premiere: Film Festival Cologne 2018, nomination best documentary film

2017 TOKIO HOTEL - Behind the World, Director: Oliver Schwabe (90 min, documentary) - Writer, Director, Bildersturm Filmproduktion

2017 EXODUS - Reports from four unaccompanied refugee minors, Director: Oliver Schwabe (60 min, documentary) - Writer, Director

2016 DER BRUDER, directed by Christian Becker & Oliver Schwabe (30 min, short film) - writer, director, camera

2014 WAS BIN ICH WERT, director: Peter Scharf, 90min, documentary film - camera

2014 Von der Beraubung der Zeit, Director: D. Postrak, J. Neumann, 79min, documentary - producer

2012 FRAKTUS, director: Lars Jessen (90 min, feature film) - camera

2010 Sohnemänner, director: Ingo Haeb (feature film) - camera

2009 ZARTE PARASITEN, Director: Christian Becker & Oliver Schwabe (85 min, feature film) - Writer, Director, Cinematographer

2006 Hotel Paradijs, director: Jan Krüger (short film) - camera

2004 EGOSHOOTER, - Director: Christian Becker & Oliver Schwabe (78 min, feature film) - Writer, Director, Cinematographer

2003 Die Krokodile der Familie Wandaogo, Director: Britta Wandaogo (60 min, documentary) (German Short Film Award 2003 / Special Formats) - Cinematography

2001 Freunde/The Whiz Kids, Director: Jan Krüger (short film) (Silver Lion, Best Short Film, Venice 2001) - Cinematography

TV

2019 Being David Hasselhoff, Director: Oliver Schwabe, 52min, Arte, Dok, Spoon Filmproduktion - Director

2018 Class reunion, director: Jan Georg Schütte, 90min, ARD - camera

2017 I've lost my mind in Essen - 40 years of Rockpalast night, 60min, documentary (WDR) - writer, director

2016 Die Höhle von Eppendorf - the legendary Onkel Pö, 60min, documentary (NDR) - writer, director

2016 No breathing space - Düsseldorf, the Ratinger Hof and the new music, 45min, documentary (WDR) - writer, director

2016 Wellness for couples, director: Jan Schütte, 90min, feature film (WDR) - camera

2015 Jennifer - Sehnsucht nach was Besseren, director: Lars Jessen, 3x30min, TV series (NDR) - camera

2015 HORST KÖNIGSTEIN and his films about beat, rock and pop, 45min, documentary (NDR) - writer, director

2015 BEAT IM POTT, 45min, documentary (WDR) - writer, director

2014 FREDDY QUINN and the eternal longing, 60min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2014 Die Nordkommissare - im Polizeiruf 110, 45min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2014 The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction in NRW, 45min, documentary (WDR) - writer, director

2014 PUMP UP THE JAM - Heroes of Eurodance, 60min, documentary (arte/rbb/WDR) - writer, director

2013 Die Nordkommissare - A crime scene chronology, 45min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2013 HEINO - MADE IN GERMANY, 58min, documentary (arte/rbb/WDR) - writer, director

2012 Rote Rosen - Alltag einer Telenovela, 45min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2012 Bienvenue im Kleidermarkt, 60min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2010 Hamburg Calling-Musik aus einer Hafenstadt, 90 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2010 Ich, Ringo und das Tor zur Welt, 90 min, TV play (NDR television) (together with Jan Bonny) - writer, director

2009 Berlin-Lost in Time and Space - The Sound of the Divided City, 90 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2008 STARDUST-Von der Leidenschaft ein Star zu sein, 90 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2007 Disco Love Machine - Im Beat liegt die Sehnsucht, 150 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2006 My Generation - The sound of revolt told in 15 songs, 177 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2006 Unser Reigen, director: Horst Königstein (105 min, docudrama, NDR television) - camera

2005 Jürgen Roland Reloaded, 60 min, documentary (NDR television) - writer, director

2000 Odenbach, 45 min, documentary - writer, director

1999 Digital Autonomy, 45 min, documentary - writer, director

1998 Dont Bring A Dog, 75 min, documentary - writer, director

1996 Ein Wiegenlied die Welt zum Glühen bringt, 20 min, documentary (together with Christian Becker) - writer, director, camera

Video installations/music videos (selection)

2023 Superfucker, music video for ABWÄRTS (Off Ya Tree Records)

2013 Neonlicht, music video for MESSER “Neonlicht” from the album “Die Unsichtbaren” (This Charming Man / Cargo)

2013 [GOJIRA] SILENCE, music and film performance together with Ulrike Haage as part of the signal x series of Städteregion Aachen

2012 Mutmaßungen über Hendrik, music video for MESSER “Mutmaßungen über Hendrik” from the album: “Im Schwindel” (This Charming Man / Cargo)

2012 PRESENT, video projection as part of Signal x, Aachen

2006 RE: Outside lonley, inside dizzy, video installation

2006 Abime/Nocturne, directed by Dirk Specht (62 min, audio piece with images)

2004 PHLIZZ, projection as part of the dance piece of the same name by Vera Sander, Cologne

2001 State of Transition/Druckkammer, projection as part of the dance piece of the same name by Vera Sander, Cologne

2001 Tilt!, projection as part of the performance O., Amsterdam

1999 Animat_2000, 1 channel video installation (together with Christian Bumba)

1998 Amplifier, 4 channel video installation, sound: Dirk Specht