Alexandra Gramatke
by Marinell Haegelin

Alexandra Gramatke, Executive Director and Geschäftsführerin of the KurzFilmAgentur (ShortFilmAgency) Hamburg since 2008, had a solid base in film, and filmmaking before assuming the position. After receiving a degree in Slavistik und Neueren deutschen Literaturwissenschaft (Slavonic and Contemporary German literary studies), she worked as a freelance translator in the areas of literature and documentaries. Fluent in Russian, a film project translation while studying shifted Alexandra’s focus from theater to film.

From film theory to filmmaking: While preparing for a project based in the Ukraine, filmmaker Barbara Metzlaff contacted Alexandra in search of an interpreter. A natural evolvement was in 1994 when Ms. Gramatke joined the Hamburg film collective, “die thede,” and began making documentary films for television and cinema. Alexandra and Barbara’s affinity from their first project carried into others, including the 2011 documentary 20 Geigen auf St. Pauli (20 Violins in St. Pauli). It was filmed over three years, so they were in production even as Alexandra took on the job at the KurzFilmAgentur.

This prior experience gives Alexandra a solid base, and appreciation for the challenges unique to filmmakers and the position she now holds.