Wim Wenders has boarded “Truth:Beauty,” a feature documentary about legendary German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh, as executive producer.
The project, produced by Maja Hoffmann and Human Humans, will mark the feature directorial debut of French novelist Alexandra Matine, whose books include “Scopophilia” and “La Pire Amie du monde.”
Matine is also writing the film, which is being developed in partnership with the Peter Lindbergh Foundation, giving the filmmakers full access to the photographer’s archives.
The announcement comes on the heels of the world premiere of Wenders’ latest documentary, “From Inside Out,” at the Venice Film Festival.
Principal photography on “Truth:Beauty” is expected to kick off before the end of the year.
One of the most influential fashion photographers of his generation, Lindbergh, who died in 2019 at the age of 74, helped usher in the era of the supermodel with his striking black-and-white portraits. Over a career spanning four decades, he became known for bringing a more natural and realistic approach to fashion photography, moving away from the heavily stylized images that had dominated the industry.
Wenders and Lindbergh, who belonged to the same generation of German artists, shared a friendship spanning several decades. Their work also influenced one another. Lindbergh’s 1993 Harper’s Bazaar editorial “City of Angels” was directly inspired by Wenders’ “Wings of Desire.”
One of Germany’s most celebrated filmmakers, Wenders won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for “Paris, Texas,” the Golden Lion at Venice for “The State of Things,” and the best director prize at Cannes for “Wings of Desire.” He has also earned four Oscar nominations, including three in the documentary feature category for “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Pina” and “The Salt of the Earth.”
Hoffmann, who serves as president of the Locarno Film Festival, has a track record of backing documentaries about major figures in the art world, notably “Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present,” “Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict” and “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child.”
“Truth:Beauty” is produced by Human Humans in association with Composite Films.
