Wenders Returns Home

Born in 1945, the director has been making films since the 1960s. He quickly gained recognition and was a significant player in the "new German cinema" movement of the 1970s.

Acclaim beyond Germany's borders

His first international success was "Alice in the Cities," the first of a road movie trilogy, which transformed him into what some consider Germany's most important director.

In 1984, he received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for "Paris, Texas," and in 1987 he was awarded the Best Director prize for his homage to Berlin "Wings of Desire."

Some commercial and critical flops followed. Recently, however, he has made some music documentaries which have met great acclaim, notably "The Buena Vista Social Club."

This told the story of an endearing group of forgotten, aging musicians in Havana, Cuba and propelled them to international stardom.

Independence and little money make for a good film

Although he has lived in Los Angeles and his recent fiction films, such as "The End of Violence" or "The Million Dollar Hotel" have focused on America, the director has remained a significant advocate of European cinema. Moreover, despite his commercial success he has stayed independent.

"I think that if you have something to say today you better make sure that you don't have much money," he said. "I have enjoyed making my best films with very small budgets."

The 47th International Film Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece has just paid tribute to his work. Talking to reporters in the northern port, he was reluctant to give away much about his current project.

"I never speak about a movie that I have still not started yet," he said. "I know that it will be about Germany and it will take place mostly in the East, a part of the country that I have only had the chance to know for the past 15 years."