From 1992 to 1995, Franziska Petri studied at the renowned âErnst Busch Academy of Dramatic Artâ in Berlin. Her cinema debut was a part in âThe Big Mamboâ (âDas Mambospielâ) by Michael Gwisdek in 1997, which opened the 48th Berlin International Film Festival. With her first leading role in in the award-winning âForget Americaâ (âVergiss Amerikaâ) she attracted both critics' and audiences' attention. After leading roles in the most diverse cinema productions like the historic drama âLeo & Claireâ by Joseph Vilsmaier, the quirky comedy âMax & Moritz Reloadedâ by Thomas Frydetzki, the gloomy thriller âThe Heart Is a Dark Forestâ (âDas Herz ist ein dunkler Waldâ) by Nicolette Krebitz, the political drama âLong Shadowsâ (âSchattenweltâ) by Connie Walther or the psychological drama âMemoryâ (âDer Tag, an dem ich meinen toten Mann trafâ) by Matthias Luthardt, she appeared in the psychothriller âFor Miriamâ (âFür Miriamâ) by Lars Gunnar Lotz. For her outstanding performance in âFor Miriamâ she was awarded
Best Actress at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival 2009 (Perspektive Deutsches Kino),
Best Actress at La Cabina. Festival Internacional de Mediometrajes de Valencia, Spain 2010
and Best Actress at the 11th Aubagne International Film Festival, France 2010. In 2011 she played the starring role in Kirill Serebrennikov's dark tale of love Izmena/Betrayal, which premiered in the official competition of the Venice Film Festival 2012. For her impressive performance she was awarded Best Actress at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.